McLaren Senna GTR Road-going Senna a bit too tame for you? You’ll be wanting the £1million track-only GTR version…Text and photography by James Disdale.
1 AERODYNAMICS
Much of the GTR’s performance increase over the regular Senna is due to its aero package. The Senna’s rear wing was already massive, but it’s the size of the GTR’s front splitter and rear diffuser that really leave the mouth a gape: free from FIA regulation, they dwarf any current racing car’s, and instantly betray why the GTR is not road-legal, or at least not under a full type approval.
Together they contribute to a staggering total down-force figure of 1000kg.
2 ENGINE & GEARBOX
There’s no confirmation on what power and torque figures McLaren has massaged out of the twin-turbo V8, but what the company will say is that the 4-litre unit will produce at least 814bhp – up 25bhp on the road-going Senna. The torque figure is unlikely to rise much above the road car’s 590lb f t. McLaren says the engine is connected to a ‘race-style’ transmission, but quite what this means for the Senna’s double-clutch ’box is unclear. A full-blown sequential racing gearbox?
3 CHASSIS
It’s testament to the already pared-back, minimalist design of the standard Senna that McLaren admits it hasn’t been able to reduce the GTR’s kerb weight below the 1198kg (dry) quoted for a Senna with lightweight options. Instead, it has concentrated on tightening the car’s focus around ultimate circuit performance, incorporating a broader track covered by wider front and rear clip -on wings, revising the suspension and fitting a new design of wheel shod with Pirelli slicks.
DRIVE-MY COMMENT
Up to 75 examples of the Senna GTR will be made in 2019, costing £1million apiece. Whether it can keep pace with an Aston Mar tin Valkyrie AMR Pro is largely redundant, given there are no plans for the two to meet on a racetrack in anger, and track-days are untimed. That said, Drive-My has access to a track and owns a stopwatch…
Whatever the case, the GTR’s pace over a lap promises to be ferocious, largely due to its outrageous aerodynamic s. Yet, however impressive this may be, perhaps the big gest questions are not just where will this track-day arms race end, but when will motor racing regulations allow these extraordinary machines to compete head-to -head?
TECHNICAL DATA FILE SPECIFICATIONS 2019 McLaren Senna GTR
Engine V8, 3994cc, twin-turbo
Max power 814bhp @ 7400rpm / DIN (est)
Max torque 590lb ft 3300-5500rpm / DIN (est)
Weight (dry) 1198kg (est)
Power-to-weight 690bhp/ton (est)
0-62mph c2.7sec (est)
Top speed c210mph (est)
Basic price £1million+
On sale 2019
