Tuesday 12th August 2014

McLaren 650S Sprint announced

McLaren updates the track car you can't race or use on the road formula with the 650S Sprint

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It appears to have worked then. The McLaren 12C GT Sprint that looked a little pointless last year has evidently proved popular enough for McLaren to develop an updated version, the 650S Sprint.

Like a GT3, but not a GT3. And not a 650S

As quick reminder, the 12C Sprint was a lighter, lower, track-focused 12C for customers who found the road car lacking but the GT3 car a tad too much. A niche market you'd think but one that apparently contained enough buyers.

It's much the same for the 650S Sprint. The Brake Steer has been further developed and there's a 'race setup' for the ProActive Chassis Control (we'd assume this is similar to the 40mm drop and damper retuning used on the 12C). Despite altered spring rates and a 'race-prepared' braking system McLaren claims none of the refinement or balance found in the road car has been lost.

The M838T twin-turbo V8 is ostensibly identical to the roadgoing 650S. Revised intakes improve cooling and there's a bit of recalibration work for the engine and gearbox but there are no mentions of power or torque gains. A fuel bag with quick fill connectors means no track time is wasted, something the air jack system should help also. Pirelli slicks or wets are your tyre choices.

As before, the 650S Sprint gets the full racer-look body addenda and stripped out cabin with the air con retained. It will be officially launched at Pebble Beach and costs £198,000, just a whisker more than the road car's £195,250.

 

[mrdemon]

seems pointless

A track only car which McLaren claims none of the refinement or balance found in the road car has been lost.

make it road legal and I see a point, make it non road legal but make it with a high level of refinement !!!!

[OlberJ]

Or just cater to the niche market's taste of rich people who like to play on track but aren't racers and keep topping up the bank balance.

They still produce the road car and still produce the GT3 version so, why not?

[P4ROT]

I should think current owners wouldn't think twice in spending the same again for some track day shenanigans (just look at the secret supercar owner in EVO Mag)

[Wkotuning]

It looks the nuts, shame its not road legal...

[suffolk009]

Surely MSO would do the spoiler and other body stuff to your road-going car - if you asked them and opened your chequebook.

[toppstuff]

I find it perplexing that McLaren seem bloody mindedly determined to not bring out a GT3/Speciale/Stradale - style version of the regular 650S.

Launching these track-only specials seems a waste of time to me. People want an alternative to the Speciale, something hardcore they can also drive on the road and which is NOT a Ferrari?

Don't they? Or am I missing something?

[F-Stop Junkie]

There's obviously a market, otherwise the 12C Sprint would have been a one-off...

There are MSO cars out there, with a Sprint-derived aero package. I assume that this is not road legal as it uses bits off the race car that are not either not homologated or would pass an IVA test. Plus I wonder how Mclaren would feel having a road car with air jacks and centre lock wheels that are expected to be serviced once a year and warrantied for 30,000 miles?

There are owners who have Sprints, who leave them with Mclaren GT to run. They turn up at the circuit/event they wish and then spend the day driving while having Mclaren GT worrying about logistics, spares, maintenance. If you're going to go that route, does it not make sense to have a track focussed car that you can push rather than having a road car transported around the place?

As a frustrated wannabe racing driver, this sounds utterly fantastic. Sadly I'm also frustrated in the wallet, so this isn't something I'll ever experience!

Arn't there rumours of a hot 650S in the works anyway?

[Dagnut]

mrdemon said:

pointless

Recurring theme on Pistonheads now.

Hennesy venom F5> pointless
290mph buggati>pointless
McLaren track car> pointless.

If you want a S650s for track use, which clearly people do as they are selling them well then it's more relevant than any other car to that customer. What is the point of anything special if you want to rationalise it to basic functionality?

[RoverP6B]

Surely this is begging for a one-make race series?

[gsuk1]

This seems like an alternative to the Ferrari XX programme. Only much cheaper (Sorry, much less expensive) and you can take the car home and use it as you like.

When you compare this to the Ferrari scheme this starts to make more sense. Also if you have the money it'll be the ultimate track day car. More comfortable than the GT3, more fun and less serious, ideal for track days.
Also there's no risk of damaging your weekend road car, so the wife wont complain that she cant go posing after you've spanked the McLaren again.

[WokkaWokka]

Dagnut said:

mrdemon said:

pointless

Recurring theme on Pistonheads now.

Hennesy venom F5> pointless
290mph buggati>pointless
McLaren track car> pointless.

If you want a S650s for track use, which clearly people do as they are selling them well then it's more relevant than any other car to that customer. What is the point of anything special if you want to rationalise it to basic functionality?

There is nothing pointless about it if you the owner get enjoyment out of it and that is whether it is sat on a plinth in your underground man cave or going through tyres, discs, pads and fuel at a circuit.

[greygoose]

gsuk1 said:

This seems like an alternative to the Ferrari XX programme. Only much cheaper (Sorry, much less expensive) and you can take the car home and use it as you like.

When you compare this to the Ferrari scheme this starts to make more sense. Also if you have the money it'll be the ultimate track day car. More comfortable than the GT3, more fun and less serious, ideal for track days.
Also there's no risk of damaging your weekend road car, so the wife wont complain that she cant go posing after you've spanked the McLaren again.

Do people really look for comfort in a track car?

[hondansx]

Anyone stopped to think that maybe it was created out of demand, not just because McLaren fancied it?

[suffolk009]

greygoose said:

gsuk1 said:

This seems like an alternative to the Ferrari XX programme. Only much cheaper (Sorry, much less expensive) and you can take the car home and use it as you like.

When you compare this to the Ferrari scheme this starts to make more sense. Also if you have the money it'll be the ultimate track day car. More comfortable than the GT3, more fun and less serious, ideal for track days.
Also there's no risk of damaging your weekend road car, so the wife wont complain that she cant go posing after you've spanked the McLaren again.

Do people really look for comfort in a track car?

I've seen plenty of people sitting in their Porsches with the aircon on full.

[OlberJ]

Those who spend £200k on one probably do, yes.

Remember this will be an all day play thing for someone shipped round all sorts of tracks, all over the world.

They don't want to race, just to enjoy the track day. Being the quickest thing there might come into it too.

We're not talking luxobarge levels of comfort here but no point making it uncomfortable just to lose a few kgs.

Race cars on track days aren't best suited to the process.

[Dagnut]

OlberJ said:

We're not talking luxobarge levels of comfort here but no point making it uncomfortable just to lose a few kgs.

if you want comfort buy the road car?

[gsuk1]

suffolk009 said:

greygoose said:

gsuk1 said:

This seems like an alternative to the Ferrari XX programme. Only much cheaper (Sorry, much less expensive) and you can take the car home and use it as you like.

When you compare this to the Ferrari scheme this starts to make more sense. Also if you have the money it'll be the ultimate track day car. More comfortable than the GT3, more fun and less serious, ideal for track days.
Also there's no risk of damaging your weekend road car, so the wife wont complain that she cant go posing after you've spanked the McLaren again.

Do people really look for comfort in a track car?

I've seen plenty of people sitting in their Porsches with the aircon on full.

What I'm saying is its a nice compromise. Remember track days are for fun not lap times. So personally I'd rather have a very slightly slower lap time in a nice air conditioned cockpit, than a marginally faster lap time while sitting a in a pool of sweat from the V8 adding additional heat to the already hot 'super-greenhouse'. - This is specially appealing when your swapping drivers!

[Sampaio]

To people saying this is pointless - if I was a millionaire I'd like to have a dedicated track car that I could ship around the world and do track days with.

Also, if I was a millionaire I don't think I would buy a supercar for the road, I'd much prefer a sports car like a 911 GT3 or an Exige.

I'd buy it...

[OlberJ]

Dagnut said:

if you want comfort buy the road car?

But the road car won't be as good on the track.

If you have £200k to spunk on a track day car, why not have the best suited car? It'll be stupid quick yet comfortable. They've nailed it IMO.

[Dagnut]

OlberJ said:

Dagnut said:

if you want comfort buy the road car?

But the road car won't be as good on the track.

If you have £200k to spunk on a track day car, why not have the best suited car? It'll be stupid quick yet comfortable. They've nailed it IMO.

Apologises, I total misinterpreted you.