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A month ago we brought you the news that McLaren was busy creating a track-only version of the P1. Now we can tell you more about it. It’ll be called the P1 GTR, it’ll produce more power, more downforce, more grip and will cost more than double the price of a standard P1.
Lets start with the name. GTR was the tag McLaren attached to racing versions of the F1 road car (picture 2 above). A car, let’s not forget, that won Le Mans back in 1995. The timing of this announcement, with the famous 24 hour race taking place this weekend – is surely no coincidence. At the moment, all McLaren is saying about the GTR is that this is a track-only version of the P1, but McLaren is fond of an anniversary – could it be possible that a P1 GTR will debut at Le Mans 20 years on from the F1’s famous victory?
Actual technical details are scant, as are images: we only have the underwhelming sketch above for now. McLaren claims it’s aiming for a 1,000PS output (986bhp, a gain of 83bhp over the current model) but doesn’t say if that’ll be from electrical enhancement or simply turning the wick up further on the twin turbo 3.8-litre V8. The aerodynamics will be enhanced to deliver more downforce, the track widths will be widened, the styling will be more aggressive and in place of the Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, the GTR will feature ‘race-proven’ slicks.
This will make a big difference. As you’ll be able to read about in the next issue of Top Gear magazine (obligatory plug: our Performance Car of the Year issue is on sale next Wednesday), with a certain man in white driving (picture 3 above), the standard P1 is capable of pulling 2.15 lateral g and batting past 60mph and 100mph in 2.5sec and 5.0sec respectively. Just how much faster will the GTR be? Could 2.0sec to 60mph be possible? Sub-4.5sec to 100mph?
Here’s what we do know. It’s intended as a track day car for very wealthy clients. Production will only start once all 375 standard P1s have been built. Numbers will be very limited, and the GTR will cost £1.98 million – a fair mark up on the £866,000 charged for the ‘ordinary’ P1. The asking price will include a program of track days at current Formula One circuits around the world, as well as advice and consultations with various McLaren people from the driver fitness team to Design Director Frank Stephenson – which could mean there’s a possibility of bespoke styling. Access to McLaren’s fabled racing simulators will also be included.
Written By:- Ollie Marriage
More of this article on the Top gear website