Thursday 14th November 2013

Chris Harris video: McLaren 12C GT3

Chris has had a go with a McLaren 12C GT3; now wants to go racing - any offers?

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The beauty of basing your street car around a carbon tub is that when you come to turn it into a racing car, you have a massive advantage. That's what most people thought when McLaren quietly entered its new GT3 version of the 12C into selected events back in 2011.

The car was undoubtedly fast, but it was also temperamental - which is a polite way of saying it didn't tend to finish long distance races. This was something of a problem given that when GT3 cars aren't knocking expensive chunks of carbon off each other in Blancpain or one of the many international series the cars can be raced in, they usually run over much longer distances.

In 2012 the car had improved reliability, and again this year, but it still doesn't have the reputation of the great unstoppable tank that is the SLS AMG GT3. Or for that matter the Porsche GT3 R.

The great frustration is that the McLaren is surely the fastest car of the lot, were it not for the FIA restrictors and balance of performance rules. It has to lose over 120hp compared to the street car, and can't really take advantage of its reduced mass compared to the others. Still, over 40 cars have been delivered, and with a list price of £325,000, that's a fair amount of cash generated.

We drive the car at Snetterton - the first time I've tried the new track layout, and I have to say I rather preferred it as was! The sheer speed of these new-generation of GT3 racers needs to be felt to be believed. Not only that they look and feel like much more serious machines than before, in fact with its carbon tub and funky control panels and dash readout, this has much more the look and feel of a GT1 car, perhaps even a covered prototype.

Enjoy the vid. And yes, I'd love to spend more time in one of these and learn the brakes better. Maybe even do a 24hr race in one. All offers considered!

 

[rocketdogbert]

If I win £80M on Friday, look me up :-)

[neiljohnson]

Looks really good & sounds pretty epic too!!

[dtrump]

Seemed like you were trying to be kind and actually were not that impressed

Obviously a racecar should be planted and balanced but this just seemed like a non event, almost boring onboard
It gripped had amazing brakes and never looked like it had anything close to enough power for a racecar

Looked and sounded very nice though

[chris333]

Anyone know what the panel with the rows of LEDs to the right of the steering wheel does?

[Ollieb7]

Yep, sounds great!

[Chunkychucky]

dtrump said:

Seemed like you were trying to be kind and actually were not that impressed

Obviously a racecar should be planted and balanced but this just seemed like a non event, almost boring onboard
It gripped had amazing brakes and never looked like it had anything close to enough power for a racecar

Looked and sounded very nice though

Couldn't have written that better, good man.

[Abwalsh]

If I'm honest that was a bit boring.

[Mermaid]

Abwalsh said:

If I'm honest that was a bit boring.

I agree, not a compelling watch. But then this is a McLaren - highly competent.

[loudlashadjuster]

Look at it.

LOOK AT IT.

Luvverly

[DanielSan]

ALL racing cars are awesome. Mclaren's too me are always just that bit more awesome purely down to how they look.

[anonymous-user]

Don't get the negativity - it's a race car constrained by the regulations of the series in which it competes.

Power is mandated by the regulations, lairy cornering is slower, wouldn't this be the inevitable result?

[dinkel]

Mermaid said:

Abwalsh said:

If I'm honest that was a bit boring.

I agree, not a compelling watch. But then this is a McLaren - highly competent.

Maybe from the camera point of view . . . I can only imagine Chris had a dream ride.

[TNH]

That looks and sounds seriously naughty.

[LordPetroleum]

chris333 said:

Anyone know what the panel with the rows of LEDs to the right of the steering wheel does?

Yeahman, its da graphic equalizers innit!

[martin elaman]

I prefer the road car bits. More of those please. More interactivity with PHer's please too, Martin

[Krikkit]

Even though it wasn't very spellbinding it sounds like Chris was working quite hard in there! The one thing, as a spectator, that GT3 cars get across is what an epic noise they make.

You've got all the V8 types out there between the cross-plane Corvette engine, the barking flat-plane Ferrari, the turbo'd McLaren, and the SLS rounding it off with the Vantage... Then you've got the V10 Lambo, the flat-6 Porsche, and another V10 in the Viper. What a soundtrack!

[Sampaio]

dtrump said:

Seemed like you were trying to be kind and actually were not that impressed

Obviously a racecar should be planted and balanced but this just seemed like a non event, almost boring onboard
It gripped had amazing brakes and never looked like it had anything close to enough power for a racecar

Looked and sounded very nice though

Yes he was obviously trying to be kind, but you have to take into account that he's neither a professional race car driver nor was he driving at the limit in any of the laps, so it had to look a bit soulless. But hey, I'm with you, it was a pretty poor video considering his high standard.

I do find his road car reviews much more interesting, but I can't blame Harris on the reaction on this video (I mean, who would've thought that driving a 12C GT3 could make a not-very-entertaining clip?)

[TheJimi]

I can't be the only one missing the subtitles?

Really, really annoying.

Tho I'm not paying for videos, so I suppose I can't complain too much.

[swanny71]

First time I've clicked off a CH video half way through

[Farmboy UK]

What a cracking bit of machinery! Looks and sounds fantastic.

I think the video was good - I can't see what else you could ask for... it's a GT3 racer, it's being driven as intended. It's not the sort of car you film doing massive slides through every corner