Monday 1st November 2010

McLaren 12C GT2 To Race At Le Mans In 2013?

Out-sourced race programme close to sign-off, reports say

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Will we see a GT2 racer next year?

McLaren is reportedly cooking up a deal with British racing team CRS that would see the new 12C supercar dipping a toe into GT3 racing next year, with a GT2 Le Mans outing planned for 2013.

McLaren has never made much effort to dismiss conjecture that it's going to want to race the MP4 12C, but the company has consistently refused to provide details of any plans. Even last week during the fabulous PH prize-winners' tour of the company's F1 and Automotive facilities (full report soon), key personnel rebuffed enquiries into McLaren Automotive's GT motorsport ambitions, insisting that all attention is focused on the road version.

It works for Lewis...

So we're left to rely on a report from respected GT racing journo Gary Watkins to tell us that a deal is on the cards with Donington Park based CRS, who will apparently be in charge of converting up to 15 examples of the MP4 12C to racing GT3 spec. If the deal reaches fruition, the first cars will hit the track at the end of next season, with a view to full competition in 2012. Le Mans follows with a GT2 car the year after.

While we wait official confirmation (or not) of the reported plan, we can share a snippet revealed by McLaren design chief Frank Stephenson on Friday which reveals the design team at least has its eyes on the MP4 12C's motorsport potential. (Well, sort of...)

"We've got some very unusual items hanging on the walls of the design studio, including what I'd have to describe as a McLaren Racing sailfish," confided Frank. And in another PH global exclusive, we've got the picture to prove it.

Frank: I've got a McLaren Racing sailfish

Check it out!

[Hendry]

And is that a carbon fibre fin on the sailfish?

[ZOLLAR]

I must say i never realised that Lewis Hamilton had such a small right arm..

[mylesmcd]

ZOLLAR said:

I must say i never realised that Lewis Hamilton had such a small right arm..

He would have never made it as a driver in a manual.

[[AJ]]

Hendry said:

And is that a carbon fibre fin on the sailfish?

I would have thought the whole thing is made of CF.

ZOLLAR said:

I must say i never realised that Lewis Hamilton had such a small right arm..

I think he has the early stages of trex syndrome.

As for the GT3 and GT2 development, I would have been more surprised if they weren't going to take the MP4-12C racing. I hope it looks like this:

[Papa Hotel]

I don't get it. McLaren is a racing team that builds a few cars as a sideline, so why contract out the racing car to another team? Why not do it themselves, it's hardly like they're short of expertise, cash or facilities... that'd really put the sts up Porsche, Ferrari, Aston.

[leon9191]

Err will it still be a turbo then in GT2 and GT3 spec? i thought it would have to be N/A to be allowed in??

[jake15919]

Papa Hotel said:

I don't get it. McLaren is a racing team that builds a few cars as a sideline, so why contract out the racing car to another team? Why not do it themselves, it's hardly like they're short of expertise, cash or facilities... that'd really put the sts up Porsche, Ferrari, Aston.

Because if it doesn't win straight from the box where would that leave them? Possibly the best independent F1 team in the modern game makes a GT, takes it racing and it finishes behind Porsche and Ferrari etc, the car must be plop. At least now they will have an excuse for not winning in their first season.

I hope it goes on to become the bench mark in season two.

[Ahonen]

Papa Hotel said:

I don't get it. McLaren is a racing team that builds a few cars as a sideline, so why contract out the racing car to another team? Why not do it themselves, it's hardly like they're short of expertise, cash or facilities... that'd really put the sts up Porsche, Ferrari, Aston.

Ferrari doesn't build its GT2 or GT3 racecars either.

[dieseltaylor]

"Both species of sailfish grow quickly, reaching 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) in length in a single year, and feed on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic forage fish and squid. Individuals have been clocked at speeds of up to 110 km/h (70 mph), which is the highest speed reliably reported in a fish.[2] Generally, sailfish do not grow to more than 3 m (10 ft) in length and rarely weigh over 90 kg (200 lb).2
Wkipedai. So very fast and small. Hmmmmm!

[bobberz]

[AJ] said:

Hendry said:

And is that a carbon fibre fin on the sailfish?

I would have thought the whole thing is made of CF.

ZOLLAR said:

I must say i never realised that Lewis Hamilton had such a small right arm..

I think he has the early stages of trex syndrome.

As for the GT3 and GT2 development, I would have been more surprised if they weren't going to take the MP4-12C racing. I hope it looks like this:

Wrong shade of blue, but otherwise

Can't wait to see it run!

[infradig]

Was going to post something relevant,but I've been distracted by the M&S ad.good work ad sales chaps.

[Chris-R]

[AJ] said:

Hendry said:

And is that a carbon fibre fin on the sailfish?

I would have thought the whole thing is made of CF.

I believe it's a real one - or at least it was.

[Rich_W]

jake15919 said:

Papa Hotel said:

I don't get it. McLaren is a racing team that builds a few cars as a sideline, so why contract out the racing car to another team? Why not do it themselves, it's hardly like they're short of expertise, cash or facilities... that'd really put the sts up Porsche, Ferrari, Aston.

Because if it doesn't win straight from the box where would that leave them? Possibly the best independent F1 team in the modern game makes a GT, takes it racing and it finishes behind Porsche and Ferrari etc, the car must be plop. At least now they will have an excuse for not winning in their first season.

They managed it back in 95 with "works supported" efforts. Though visitors to MTC, will note the 24H trophy resides there and not with the Lanzante team

[Racefan_uk]

leon9191 said:

Err will it still be a turbo then in GT2 and GT3 spec? i thought it would have to be N/A to be allowed in??

Why? The race car will have to be homologated to what the road car runs, so unless there's a normally aspirated version on sale, it'll need to be based on the turbo'd unit in the road car. There's not regs that outlaw turbo's in GT3 and GT2 (at least, none that I'm aware of).

[F1GTRUeno]

Well the Z06R Corvettes had to have different engines didn't they? Isn't the road car supercharged or is that just the ZR1?

The GT2/3 Ford GT's run 5.0 engines without superchargers as well don't they, instead of the 5.4 SC engine in the road car.

[bobberz]

F1GTRUeno said:

Well the Z06R Corvettes had to have different engines didn't they? Isn't the road car supercharged or is that just the ZR1?The GT2/3 Ford GT's run 5.0 engines without superchargers as well don't they, instead of the 5.4 SC engine in the road car.

The Z06 is NA, only the ZR1 has the blower.

[wtdoom]

I bet the race car has a slippy diff ...

[will261058]

I think that thing in Gulf colours or any other colour for that matter is fking gorgeous

[wildman0609]

F1GTRUeno said:

Well the Z06R Corvettes had to have different engines didn't they? Isn't the road car supercharged or is that just the ZR1?

The GT2/3 Ford GT's run 5.0 engines without superchargers as well don't they, instead of the 5.4 SC engine in the road car.

the nissan's in gt1 have an N/A v8, explain that in homologation terms

[MoBeanz]

wtdoom said:

I bet the race car has a slippy diff ...

Why? .. the 12C has brake-steer.