McLaren MP4-12C GT3 racer
appeared in revised form at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as development work continues apace with the new car.
The MP4-12C GT3 - which is the first non-F1 competition car to come from McLaren since the F1 GTR in the mid-90s - has been undergoing 'intense' development and now has various improvements fitted, including a front radiator, which increases the maximum ambient temperature at which the car can run, along with a new gearbox cooler mounted on the rear Aerodeck.
Other new aero bits include a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front bumper, all in carbon fibre.
All looks pretty good to us, chaps (though we must admit we're hardly trained aerodynamic engineers...
McLaren GT, which is the company created for the joint venture between CRS and McLaren to create the 12C GT3 programme, is spending 2011 developing the car, ahead of the delivery of 20 cars to privateer teams (a mere snip at just £310k) for European GT3 racing in 2012.
McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Technical Specification
Width (mm) |
1995mm |
Height (mm) |
1145mm |
Wheelbase (mm) |
2670mm |
Fuel tank capacity |
120 litres |
Chassis/body |
McLaren carbon fibre MonoCell with aluminum front and rear frames and bespoke carbon body panels |
Aerodynamics |
Front and rear diffuser, front splitter, dive planes and adjustable rear wing. |
Transmission |
6 speed sequential using actuation via steering wheel mounted paddles Limited slip differential with a range of ramps and adjustable pre-load. Wet sump Sintered clutch hydraulically operated Driveshafts with tripod joints |
Engine type |
V8 twin turbo McLaren M838T |
Engine capacity |
3.8L |
Bore x Stroke |
93 x 69.9 |
Max. Engine speed |
Limited to 7500rpm |
Cylinder block |
Cast aluminium , 90 deg V angle, dry sump scavenge, Nikasil coated liners |
Crankshaft |
Forged steel flat plane |
Pistons |
Forged aluminium |
Conrods |
Forged steel |
Cylinder head |
Cast aluminium with plastic composite cam covers, inlet & exhaust variable cam timing |
Valvetrain |
32V with 40 deg variable cam timing on intake & exhaust. Low mass with sliding contact end pivoted pinger followers, single variable rate springs and hollow cast chilled iron camshafts |
Intake system |
Two water/air charge air coolers. Plastic composite plenum. |
Exhaust system |
Cast stainless steel exhaust manifold with compact MHI fixed geometry turbo chargers. 970 deg C turbine inlet temperature. |
Fuel system |
Returnless fuel rail with twin fuel tank mounted pumps and twin spray injectors |
Engine management |
MESL TAG400 ECU & CIU 100 Interfacing with Bosch ABS and Shiftec control units |
Wiring harness |
Modular installation: Engine, chassis, fuel cell |
Lubrication |
MOBIL1: engine and transmission |
Cooling |
Air/water heat exchangers for engine water and charge air cooling combined with water/oil heat exchangers for engine, transmission & PAS. |
Front axle |
SKF integrated axles with handed single wheel retaining nut |
Rear axle |
SKF integrated axles with handed single wheel retaining nut |
Front suspension |
Double wishbone adjustable for ride height camber and toe |
Rear suspension |
Double wishbone adjustable for ride height camber and toe |
Dampers |
Coil over Multimatic dampers with DSSV technology with independent bump and rebound adjustment |
Front brake system |
Akebono 6 piston monoblock caliper 378Ø x 36mm Iron ventilated disc |
Rear brake system |
Akebono 4 piston monoblock caliper 355Ø x 32mm iron ventilated disc |
Steering |
Electro-hydraulic PAS |
Wheels |
Forged Aluminium Front 12” x 18” Rear 13” x 18” MESL TPS system compatible |
Cockpit electronics |
Multifunction steering wheel with integrated driver display Central switch panel with systems display screen |
Steering wheel |
Derived from MP4-24 Formula 1 wheel retaining integrated driver display, paddle shift and switches |
Thanks to Nick Williams for the pics