RE: Pic Of The Week: McLaren At Spa

RE: Pic Of The Week: McLaren At Spa

Friday 12th August 2011

Pic Of The Week: McLaren At Spa

Atmospheric shots convey the magic of endurance GT racing


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They say racing improves the breed, but if the Spa 24hrs the other weekend was anything to go by, McLaren could be set to improve the racing in GT3. Or if not the racing, at least the photography...

From this desk, the new Macca GT3 racers look like the dog's danglers, and here to prove it are a couple of lovely shots from the Spa event - courtesy of the McLaren Automotive publicity machine.

McLaren's first endurance race for around 15 years saw three MP4-12C's lined up on the grid, and although only one car got to the finish line in 25th spot (an accident and a fire removed the other two from contention), the company has drawn various positives from the experience:

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"Impressive lap times, successful integration of a future McLaren GT customer into the team at Spa, and the safety of McLaren GT driver and Project Manager Andrew Kirkaldy following a high speed incident, mark out a positive result for McLaren GT in its debut 24 hour endurance race," they say.

Er, OK. Nice pictures! we say.

Meanwhile, if you've been meaning to soak up a bit of the legendary Spa atmosphere but missed the 24hrs - don't forget this PH special offer for the Six Hours. And if you want to see a McLaren in the flesh, we're picking one up this morning to take to Wilton House on Sunday. Come and say hello!

Wet...
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WideScreen (1440x900)
SuperSize (2048x1536)

...and dry
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SuperSize (2048x1536)

Author
Discussion

GFWilliams

Original Poster:

4,941 posts

206 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
I'm in love with that top photos. Kudos to the photographer thumbup

Got to say, the Macca is a great looking car biggrin

Dr S

4,995 posts

225 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
GFWilliams said:
Got to say, the Macca is a great looking car biggrin
Whilst the road car leaves me cold, the race version looks just fabulous

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
I thought it was going to be this :

http://jalopnik.com/5826525/watch-a-500000-mclaren...

M

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
That is a great top pic smile

Guvernator

13,105 posts

164 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Dr S said:
GFWilliams said:
Got to say, the Macca is a great looking car biggrin
Whilst the road car leaves me cold, the race version looks just fabulous
Absolutely agree. The racer has the much needed drama that the road going version is sorely lacking. Why Mclaren decided to release such a generic and dull looking supercar, really is beyond me. It almost looks like the kind of supercar Kia or Deawoo would design if they made supercars and yet with just a few small changes the racer looks 100 times better. They seriously need to do a quick facelift and add some of the elements from the racer to the road going version.

GFWilliams

Original Poster:

4,941 posts

206 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Guvernator said:
Dr S said:
GFWilliams said:
Got to say, the Macca is a great looking car biggrin
Whilst the road car leaves me cold, the race version looks just fabulous
Absolutely agree. The racer has the much needed drama that the road going version is sorely lacking. Why Mclaren decided to release such a generic and dull looking supercar, really is beyond me. It almost looks like the kind of supercar Kia or Deawoo would design if they made supercars and yet with just a few small changes the racer looks 100 times better. They seriously need to do a quick facelift and add some of the elements from the racer to the road going version.
I love the road car. Different people, different tastes...

Guvernator

13,105 posts

164 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
GFWilliams said:
I love the road car. Different people, different tastes...
Ayy, if we all liked the same things, the world would be a boring place and I can certainly understand why some may like the more subtle approach that the Macca road car has taken. However in my view a supercar shouldn't be subtle, there are a multitude of other cars which can do that job just fine. Still I grew up with a picture of a Lamborghini Countach SV on my wall which I still think is one of the coolest looking cars ever so I admit my taste in supercars may be a bit questionable wink

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

KevSeymour

773 posts

172 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Guvernator said:
Dr S said:
GFWilliams said:
Got to say, the Macca is a great looking car biggrin
Whilst the road car leaves me cold, the race version looks just fabulous
Absolutely agree. The racer has the much needed drama that the road going version is sorely lacking. Why Mclaren decided to release such a generic and dull looking supercar, really is beyond me. It almost looks like the kind of supercar Kia or Deawoo would design if they made supercars and yet with just a few small changes the racer looks 100 times better. They seriously need to do a quick facelift and add some of the elements from the racer to the road going version.
Perhaps they're just leaving some room for a GT3 road version in a year or so.

steviegunn

1,415 posts

183 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
KevSeymour said:
Perhaps they're just leaving some room for a GT3 road version in a year or so.
They could call it the McLaren MP4-12C GTR

thewheelman

2,194 posts

172 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Guvernator said:
Dr S said:
GFWilliams said:
Got to say, the Macca is a great looking car biggrin
Whilst the road car leaves me cold, the race version looks just fabulous
Absolutely agree. The racer has the much needed drama that the road going version is sorely lacking. Why Mclaren decided to release such a generic and dull looking supercar, really is beyond me. It almost looks like the kind of supercar Kia or Deawoo would design if they made supercars and yet with just a few small changes the racer looks 100 times better. They seriously need to do a quick facelift and add some of the elements from the racer to the road going version.
Check yourself for a pulse! They're stunning cars, & the pictures do them little justice.

Mr Whippy

28,944 posts

240 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Oooer, when did they repaint the kerbs red and yellow up Eau Rouge?

Dave

Caractacus

2,604 posts

224 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Guvernator said:
GFWilliams said:
I love the road car. Different people, different tastes...
However in my view a supercar shouldn't be subtle,
Indeed.

However, imagine this...

Mclaren don't think this is their 'super car'...just their mid-level sports car.

What will their actual super car be like then? Can't wait to see, tbh!

Still love the 12C though.

NotNormal

2,357 posts

213 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Also love this pic of the MP4 taken at Spa smile


Rich A

248 posts

158 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Both are stunning pics. And what I wouldn't do to drive the 12c (GT or race car, I don't mind) around Spa.

(I do much prefer the white and red paint too :P)

edit: NotNormal's photo wins.

Guvernator

13,105 posts

164 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Caractacus said:
Guvernator said:
GFWilliams said:
I love the road car. Different people, different tastes...
However in my view a supercar shouldn't be subtle,
Indeed.

However, imagine this...

Mclaren don't think this is their 'super car'...just their mid-level sports car.

What will their actual super car be like then? Can't wait to see, tbh!

Still love the 12C though.
I think you are confusing the term super car and hyper car. While the 12C might be the entry level Macca, it is definately in supercar territory as it's priced right in the Ferrari 458 bracket and pretty evenly matched on performance and I would definately call the 458 a supercar.

There definately seems to be a split these days in that you have the normal supercar (if you can call any supercar normal) in the sub £250k bracket and then you have the hyper cars which usually come in above that price point and which are on a different level again in terms of performance.

The 12C IS Mclaren's supercar, the next F1 equivelent will be their hypercar in line with other top of the line cars like the Enzo, Carrera GT etc.

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
TonyHetherington said:
That is a great top pic smile
Sure is biggrin

MB 1

523 posts

184 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
I was there the day after, and they weren't looking so clean then! biggrin

One of them was undercover, possible fire damage...

Banjo47

178 posts

225 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Photos are great and certainly do the car justice and I love the look of both cars, but the appearance is far better than the noise which is virtually non existant. Race cars should sound like race cars (Unless they are diesel of course!)and these just dont.Incredibly quick round Spa but just too quiet.

B10

1,226 posts

266 months

Friday 12th August 2011
quotequote all
Both road and racing cars look fantastic. To me the 458 is too fussy and looks as if it on belongs in Monaco. The 12C looks serious and understated. Just like a good Saville road suit.
However I would love own either.