Official: 2015 McLaren P1 GTR

Six months after being revealed in concept form, the production-spec 2015 McLaren P1 GTR has been officially revealed before next month’s Geneva Motor Show 2015. As we already knew, the McLaren P1 GTR is the track-only variant of the P1 hybrid hypercar and will debut alongside the McLaren 675LT at the impending auto show.

The most dramatic change of the initial McLaren P1 GTR show car set to be displayed at Geneva compared to the concept is its livery. The new livery pays homage to the chassis #06R McLaren F1 GTR and will be one of a selection of finishes available to P1 GTR customers. Another small aerodynamic modification is the implementation of two new canards on either side of the front bumper while the wing mirrors have also been reshaped.

Elsewhere, the design of the completed McLaren P1 GTR remains essentially identical to the Design Concept from last year’s Pebble Beach. As such, the front track has been increased by 80 mm and has been completed with an aggressive front splitter even more pronounced than the road cars. Reprofiled low temperature radiator ducts seamlessly flow into the leading edge of the aggressively flared front wheel arches while the active aerodynamic flaps from the ‘normal’ P1 have been maintained.

Additionally, new race-prepared suspension has been fitted providing a fixed ride height which is lower than the standard car. The wing mirrors have been repositioned onto the A pillars to put them closer to the eye of the driver and reduce aerodynamic drag. Meanwhile, the trailing edge of the door-mounted radiator channels have been extended to draw more air down through the cavity within the door, and into the engine to aid cooling.

At the rear is arguably the most eye-catching update of the McLaren P1 GTR Design Concept. It is a massive twin-element wing mounted on large carbon fibre uprights. The wing features a Drag Reduction System (DRS) to boost performance and has also been honed to provide extra downforce compared to the road car. Elsewhere, a brand new exhaust system is featured made from Inconel and titanium alloy. The extensive aerodynamic modifications result in 660 kg of downforce being generated at 241 km/h (150 mph) which is a 10 per cent jump over the road-going P1.

Modifications have also been made to the engine of the McLaren P1 to create the P1 GTR. Typically the P1’s 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged engine and electric motor make 903 hp combined. That has been increased to 986 hp (1000 PS) for the McLaren P1 GTR however.

Alongside the launch of the completed McLaren P1 GTR, the British marque has announced the first locations for the McLaren P1 Driver Programme. Initially, drivers will attend a test session at the Silverstone circuit in the U.K with the first track-day to be held at Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. These track events will be held after the individual driver profiling sessions at the McLaren Technology Centre. This is where drivers will have their seats fitted, a Human Performance Centre assessment as well as the owner’s final decision on livery and an experience in the advanced McLaren P1 GTR simulator.

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McLAREN P1™ GTR TO SHOW ITS LIMITED PRODUCTION FORM IN GENEVA

 Makes the transition from concept to production with track tested modifications

 Tuning in development results in 10 percent more downforce than the McLaren P1™ road car

 Lightweight components and motorsport technologies trim a further 50kg

 McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme confirms first locations

 Geneva Show car livery inspired by iconic McLaren F1 GTR, chassis #06R

 McLaren P1™ GTR will premiere alongside the recently announced McLaren

675LT on Stand 1240, Hall 1 at 12.15 CET (11.15 GMT) on Tuesday, 3 March

The track dedicated, 1000PS McLaren P1™ GTR will debut at the 85th International

Geneva Motor Show in limited production form with only minor modifications to the Design Concept presented just six months ago. The most noticeable change is the livery that the Geneva show car will be sporting. It is one which will be available to the fortunate few who will be joining the McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme that kicks off at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain later this year. The design is homage to the yellow and green McLaren F1 GTR, chassis #06R, which has claimed its own place in history as one of the five F1 GTRs that dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the historic debut by McLaren 20 years ago.

From design concept to the track

The McLaren P1™ GTR has completed an extensive and intense testing schedule across the world following the unveil of the Design Concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance last summer. This has produced enhancements to the original design to optimise aerodynamic performance and cooling.

The front track is 80mm wider than the road-going McLaren P1™ and with its aggressively profiled front splitter, the also car sits 50mm lower to the ground on centre-locking 19-inch motorsport alloy wheels shod with Pirelli slick tyres. The lower bodywork is trimmed with a sleek aerodynamic blade as previewed on the design concept, which cleans the flow of air along the car’s flanks.

The lightweight windscreen from the McLaren P1™ road car, measuring just 3.2mm thick, has been retained, while the side windows are now motorsport-specification polycarbonate with a sliding ‘ticket window’ on the driver’s side. The chemically toughened glass panels in the roof have been replaced with carbon fibre panels to give the cabin a more enclosed, cocooned environment, as has the engine bay cover. The weight saving measures on the McLaren P1™ GTR combine to strip out 50kg over the road-going model.

The rear of the track-only model is dominated, in contrast to the road-going McLaren P1™, by the presence of a fixed-height wing which sits more than 400mm above the sculpted rear bodywork – an increase of over 100mm of the adjustable wing on the road car. Working in conjunction with the front-mounted aerodynamic flaps ahead of the front wheels, the rear wing helps to increase downforce levels by more than 10 percent – meaning up to 660kg at 150 mph. Mounted on light weight carbon fibre pylon supports, the wing retains the DRS (Drag Reduction System) of the road car, which trims the pitch from 32° to 0° at the push of the button on the steering wheel. Another bold and differentiating feature at the rear are the large twin exhaust pipes, formed from an Inconel and titanium alloy. This system saves in excess of 6.5kg over the already light road-going system.

Significant updates and modifications to the IPAS powertrain have been made beneath the ‘shrinkwrapped’ carbon fibre bodywork. At its heart, the McLaren P1™ GTR seamlessly integrates the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine with an enhanced lightweight electric motor. Combined, these powerplants generate 1,000PS; 800PS (789bhp) is produced by the petrol engine, coupled to 200PS (197bhp) available immediately from the electric motor.

The powertrain has been thoroughly revised for optimum performance on track, with key components replaced with motorsport-developed parts, more suited to the sustained high speed running the cars will be subjected to. In addition to this, features within the powertrain of the McLaren P1™ designed specifically for public highway use have been removed to reduce weight.

McLaren F1 GTR chassis #06R was campaigned successfully throughout the 1995 and 1996 seasons with Mach One Racing, and is one of the longest serving examples of the McLaren F1 GTR in competition. The Harrods-sponsored #51 was famously one of seven McLaren F1 GTRs to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995, and was driven to the final podium position by multiple Le Mans race winner Derek Bell, his son Justin, and Andy Wallace. After this result, the team went on to win the final three races of the BPR Championship.

The following year, the team enjoyed another strong campaign. Oliver Grouillard joined Derek Bell and Andy Wallace in the line-up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and finished a commendable sixth. The team also claimed a win at Silverstone in the Global GT Endurance championship.

McLaren P1™ Driver Programme

The first locations for the first McLaren P1™ Driver Programme have now been confirmed, and will see drivers attend an initial test session at Silverstone, England, followed by the first on-track activity at Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. These events will follow on from individual driver profiling sessions at the McLaren Technology Centre. These tailored consultations will include a race seat fitting, a Human Performance Centre assessment, and final discussions around the design and livery of each model with McLaren Automotive Design Director Frank Stephenson. Each driver will also experience the McLaren P1™ GTR from the simulator for the first time.

Ultimate Series forms the third and final tier of the McLaren model line-up The McLaren P1™ GTR joins the road-going McLaren P1™ in the Ultimate Series. This exclusive range prioritises aerodynamics and outright performance through notable advances in weight reduction, chassis and powertrain engineering and the use of pioneering materials.

McLaren has now established a three tier naming structure of Sports Series, Super Series and Ultimate Series. The Sports Series is the entry point to McLaren and will make its global debut at the 2015 New York International Auto Show in April. Above this sits the core McLaren Super Series, comprising the 650S, the Asia-only 625C and the

recently-announced 675LT which will premiere at the Geneva Motor Show.

The McLaren P1™ GTR will make its global debut alongside the recently announced McLaren 675LT on Stand 1240, Hall 1 at 12.15 CET (11.15 GMT) on Tuesday, 3 March 2015 at the 85th International Geneva Motor Show.

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