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The McLaren 720S GT3X, based on the 720S GT3 racecar, but with none of the restrictions required for balance of performance, making it a track-only special.
21 Mar 2021 | International News : U.K.
McLaren Customer Racing has confirmed that an unrestricted version of its 720S GT3 race car, the 720S GT3X, is available to order through the McLaren Motorsport Retailer Network.
Designed and developed in-house by the motorsport arm of McLaren Automotive, the GT3X is for track use only but is not homologated for any racing class or championship. Without the need to comply with competition regulations, increased levels of power and performance have allowed McLaren Customer Racing to further exploit the chassis and aerodynamic characteristics of the 720S GT3 to optimise circuit driving enjoyment.
Coupled to a six-speed sequential motorsport transmission, a unique version of the M840T engine features a blueprinted cylinder head, strengthened pistons, 'Diamond Like Carbon' (DLC) coating and a lightweight performance exhaust system, with a further 30bhp boost function available to the driver through a steering wheel-mounted 'push-to-pass' button.
The lightweight 720S GT3X tips the scales at just 1,210kg and displays the extreme weight-saving efforts that have been taken into consideration to remove all non-essential or luxury items where possible, leaving the driver with just what they need to extract the best performance. Each of these measures combine to give the 720S GT3X a power-to-weight ratio of 612bhp-per-tonne.
The development programme has seen a focus on pure engineering, innovative aerodynamics and efficient design, with thousands of track kilometres covered. Freed from sporting regulations, the 720S GT3X is a performance-optimised version of the already-bespoke GT3 race car, with the bodywork's flowing lines developed using 'Computational Fluid Dynamics' (CFD) and Formula One wind tunnel technology.
The stripped-out cabin features extensive use of lightweight carbon fibre and is designed around outright track performance and functionality. A carbon fibre and Kevlar FIA-approved race seat hugs the driver, while the pedal box and steering wheel adjust to ensure the perfect driving position. The race steering wheel is fitted with all key functions via intuitive rotary switches and buttons meaning everything is at the driver's fingertips.
The interior of the 720S GT3X has been designed to accommodate a fully safety-compliant race seat on the passenger side of the cabin, complete with six-point race harness. Modifications over the race car include a revised design to the roll-cage to accommodate a passenger without compromising on safety and enhanced crash structures around the occupant safety cell.
In addition to delivering a new type of performance on the track, the 720S GT3X delivers a new level of ownership experience. As part of the purchase and ownership package, McLaren Automotive can provide dedicated technical track support for each owner, with the programme being carried out by the customer support engineers from the in-house McLaren Customer Racing division.
