McLaren Special Operations is marking the 25th anniversary of its dominant Le Mans 24hrs performance in the only way it knows how: with special edition customer builds. Five Senna GTRs are being produced in tribute to the same number of F1 GTRS that started and went on to dominate the 1995 event, with liveries, details and a small power boost linking each to a specific car. The collection includes the iconic Harrods livery and the black, number 59, that went on to win the race for Lanzante.
You may remember the British team has itself launched its own run, the LM25, to mark the anniversary, but McLaren's work is different as it's focused purely on the Senna GTR, turning each into a convincing homage. Brownie points are earned with the ramping up of twin-turbo 4.0-litre M840TQ V8 to 845hp, a 20hp boost over the 'standard' GTR, and the adjustment of torque curve so torque hits harder from lower revs. The Le Mans dedication cars now have a limiter "closer to 9,000rpm".
To help achieve that, the motor gets valve spring retainers made from metal matrix composite (MMC), reducing their weight by 65 per cent, higher grade steel for the valve springs and hand-polished, CNC ported cylinder heads. There's also a freer-flowing exhaust system, adding specially designed LM twin-exit pipes to the GTR's Inconel exhaust pipes. Freer breathing usually equates to more noise and drama, which would be fitting for a car dedicated to the V12-powered F1 GTR, wouldn't it?
Also mimicking the original are a set of OZ Racing rims, with a five-spoke GTR LM design. The brake calipers finished in satin gold and the suspension wishbones are in an anodised version of the same colour. Certainly looks the part. Of course, the main reason for that is the paintwork adorning each car; they wear a bespoke, hand-painted livery that "replicates or pays tribute" to the 1995 F1s. So detailed is the work that each car takes more than 800 hours to paint. It's probably safe to assume they'll be kept in slightly more pristine shape than the original racers, which finished with no shortage of duct tape and peeling decals to affirm their efforts...
Work continues inside, where each car gets an LM-spec steering wheel with anodised gold shift paddles and control buttons. The foot pedals are made from titanium nitride, all harking back to the original theme. Also linking the Sennas to their forebears are the six-point harnesses, which get the GTR LM logo embroidered on the harness pads and also on the headrests. The rest is as before, which is to say extremely racy thanks to plenty of carbon and Alcantara.
"We wanted to make a major statement with this collection,'" said Ansar Ali, managing director of McLaren Special Operations. "In creating these incredible cars to the requirements of some of our most discerning customers, we are showcasing the astonishing array of talent we have within MSO - a team that can visualise, design, produce and deliver products that really do take your breath away."
On top of that, buyers (yep, all cars are already sold) are being invited to the 2021 Le Mans event where they can drive their freshly-completed Senna GTR on circuit before the main event. That in itself ought to have been enough to convince some to hand over their cash, because things don't get much cooler than blasting down the Mulsanna Straight like JJ Lehto in a McLaren-made track monster, do they? The price is obviously not being disclosed publicly, but we can safely assume will add a fair chunk to the £1.1 million (before tax) asked for the normal GTR. Lucky devils.
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