After delivering a more rounded Sports Series car in the shape of
the 570GT,
McLaren has gone the other way with the latest recruit to its 'junior' range, making its debut this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This is the 570S Sprint and, you'll have guessed from the pictures, it's aimed purely at track usage, much like the 650S Sprint from the more senior Super Series. You can get an idea of what that was like from when our man Dale was lucky enough to
drive it
Based around the familiar 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 and Monocell II carbon tub the links to the road car are clear. No additional power or performance figures have been announced for the Sprint but McLaren has said "power and torque levels have been optimised to ensure the ultimate levels of driver engagement". Cryptic. But it sounds promising.
As you'll have guessed from the looks the focus is as much about aero and track durability as it is power and performance. Hence a new front end with a revised radiator and improved air flow to increase both cooling and downforce. At the back there's a sizeable fixed rear wing and the cast magnesium wheels run Pirelli slicks. FIA approved safety gear includes a full cage, racing seats, six-point harnesses and fire extinguisher system.
Originally the Sprint cars were developed purely as expensive track toys, unfettered by restrictive regulations demanded by GT racing. That's also the case with the 570S Sprint but, alongside the customer car, McLaren has been developing a GT4 version in what it describes as the 'live racing environment of the British GT Championship'. As such customers will be able to specifiy a 'GT4 compliance pack' to make it race-worthy, which would seem a sensible progression from wearing your race suit on track days. Pricing starts at £148,000 plus taxes with deliveries from next year. For its Goodwood debut the car will be in the Supercar Paddock between runs on the hill.