McLaren is celebrating a quarter century since it won on its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a special version of the 720S. Inspired by the F1 GTR that gave the team its first La Sarthe win on 18th June 1995, the 720hp supercar receives a raft of detail changes to link it with the JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya number 59 Lanzante GT1 racer – which was so competitive that it beat its closest rival, Porsche’s Type 935 in the normally dominant prototype class, by a lap.
Just 50 examples of these celebratory 720Ss will be made, each finished in either McLaren Orange or Sarthe Grey, with Ueno Grey lower sections and a McLaren 25 anniversary Le Mans logo on the side panels. The roof gets McLaren’s force-feeding engine intake scoop as standard, with the polycarbonate rear glazing to show off those 720hp innards, surrounded by gloss black body trim to set it all off. There are louvred carbon front wings and five-spoke LM wheels, which borrow their design from the GTR’s endurance wheels.
Inside, the racey theme continues with only Alcantara offered as a material, with McLaren Orange or Dove Grey accents to contrast. The seats are carbon and the wheel rim gets a central marker in the colour of those aforementioned accents, while 25 anniversary Le Mans logos are found on a specific dedication plate, the headrests and even floor mats.
Of course, you’re able to add a whole host of other optionable bits via McLaren’s MSO department, including different exterior and interior finish packs to complement the anniversary car’s default themes, as well as track-ready extras like a six-point harness that’s mounted to a titanium bar. Nerdiest of all, though, is the use of the number 298 on the start of each car’s VIN number, to signify the number of laps the number 59 F1 GTR completed on that highly successful weekend. One that was so successful, three GTRs finished in the top five that day.
For those wanting to relive that glory via a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre supercar, each 720S 25 anniversary costs from £254,500, not far off £50k more than a normal 720S, with first deliveries due in September – which, perhaps not by coincidence, is when the postponed 2020 Le Mans is due to run. What a trip across the Channel that would be…
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