Wednesday 4th May 2011

Video: McLaren 12C GT3 On Track

News and specs for McLaren's latest racing programme

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McLaren has released fresh details about its GT3 programme based around the stunning 12C racer - also featured in the tantalising new video below. A factory 12C GT3 goes into battle this year as part of the preparation for a 20 car customer programme in 2013.

The company's racing arm McLaren GT (a partnership between McLaren and CRS Racing) says boldly that it "aims to deliver the highest quality, most reliable and most driveable car on the GT3 grid" when cars are delivered to privateer teams. To that end the warm-up campaign this year will include the Blancpain Endurance Series race at Spain's Circuito de Navarra, Magny-Cours in France, and Silverstone. McLaren also expects to enter the 24 Hours of Spa and the new 12C GT3 will also be demonstrated to UK fans at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy will be joined by 2010 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Oliver Turvey and Portuguese racing driver Álvaro Parente in the McLaren GT driver line-up for the 2011 development programme.

The 3.8-litre McLaren V8 twin turbo 'M838T' engine supplied in the road car also features in the 12C GT3, but it has been de-tuned to 500PS (from 600PS) in order to meet FIA performance-balance regs.

We're told that as well as unique engine calibration, the racer gets a bespoke racing transmission developed in partnership with Ricardo (who also developed the engine with McLaren) and suspension tuned specifically for racing.

"With the tyre grip balance moving forward on the GT3 racing tyres it was necessary to move the centre of gravity further forward and the only way to do this was to reduce weight at the rear. A six-speed sequential shift gearbox by Ricardo was selected because a race-specific transmission is 80kg lighter than the Seamless Shift, seven-speed gearbox used in the road car. All the internal components have been proven in other racing series," says McLaren Racing head of engineering Mark Williams.

A new aerodynamics package produced entirely from carbon fibre has been developed to meet GT3 regulations, incorporating a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front wings.

Interestingly, McLaren GT plans to offer its customers the opportunity to develop their 12C GT3s using bespoke programmes in the McLaren F1 Simulator, which factory test driver Chris Goodwin reckons will be "a huge competitive advantage".

[mrclav]

I love how the GT appears from behind the "normal" version right after he says "is it's evil twin"...

[fatboy69]

Cant wait for road version of the GT3 to appear - it should make an awesome road-car. The track car will, i think, be something special so here's hoping for some spectacular GT3 racing.

[OlberJ]

A road going version of the GT3?

What, you mean the normal, more powerful car?


A GT3 Aero kit, yeah i suppose as an option.

It does look outstanding though.

[Road Rally]

Don't know how many times I watched 0:37-0:40. the sound of that thing is knee weakening.........

[fatboy69]

I just re-read my posting. Crap innit!

[louismchuge]

The best pic they could find was of it locking its front wheel?!

[torque torque]

Road Rally said:

Don't know how many times I watched 0:37-0:40. the sound of that thing is knee weakening.........

If you liked that.. 2:02 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6XZdHU9R9s

[jon-]

Would sound better without 2 silencers in the exhaust

If only the road car looked more like this.

[RudeDog]

They shouldn't do side by side marketing for this car, the GT3 makes the road car look very ordinary.

[Switch`]

mmmmmm over run...

[robinessex]

Guys, re the appearance of the 12C. I admit it isn't in the 'drop dead' catagory, but has anyone thought that McLaren might be 'releasing' this car in two stages? Stage 1, modest appearance, amazing technology. Stage 2, amazing technology as before, stunning appearance?

[threespires]

RudeDog said:

They shouldn't do side by side marketing for this car, the GT3 makes the road car look very ordinary.

In what way exactly ?
Is it the addition of the 'Halfords style' rear spoiler ?
Is it the reduced power ?
Is it the slightly different front grille openings ?
Please tell us.

[vetteheadracer]

No wonder the road car is lardy if they can drop 80kgs just by swapping to a racing gear box!

My biggest disappointment with the McLaren is the weight of it, 1400kgs plus when the F1 weighted considerably less, yet had one more seat and a hulking great big 6.0 V12 BMW lump in it compared with the current motor. I always thought that McLaren would produce a very light car and yet they don't seem to have bothered with this new one.

[GTRene]

that looks very good/nice, way better then the road car, I like those looks.

[suffolk009]

If only I had the means (and the talent) to be a gentleman racing driver.

[timbo48]

FIA GT1s are at Silverstone in June. Last year there was a GT3 support race and I see Silverstone mentioned in the article. Could it be that the McLaren is entered for this? I'm going anyway but this would be the icing on the cake so to speak if it were so.

[Dr S]

The GT3 car looks just so much better than the road version. At least they could have used a front gille similar to the GT3 on the road car to make it look more interesting

[rev-erend]

I'm ofter disappointed with a race series where a car like this has to get rid of it's ground breaking features like its suspension etc..

[DayTrader]

RudeDog said:

They shouldn't do side by side marketing for this car, the GT3 makes the road car look very ordinary.

It loooks almost identical bar the colour and spoiler...?

[RudeDog]

threespires said:

RudeDog said:

They shouldn't do side by side marketing for this car, the GT3 makes the road car look very ordinary.

In what way exactly ?

OK, IMO the GT3 stance looks more aggressive, it looks like its hugging the road a lot better thanks to the side skirts. I also think the wider track looks more menacing.

threespires said:

Is it the addition of the 'Halfords style' rear spoiler ?

No, I don't think a big wing looks good on any road car however it is perfectly acceptable for the track.

threespires said:

Is it the reduced power ?

Not at all, the reduced power doesn't really affect the look in my opinion

threespires said:

Is it the slightly different front grille openings ?

The front grille does look better although I still think that both could be improved on.

threespires said:

Please tell us.

Done