British sports car maker McLaren has taken the wraps off the 650S GT3 today at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Based on the road-going 650S Coupe, the track-only GT3 derivative is a follow-up to the 12C GT3 but with a more aggressive body kit made mostly from carbon fiber and including larger air intakes providing optimized cooling. McLaren has made use of Carbon fiber for the large fixed wing at the back where there’s also a splitter sharing the same material.
According to Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive: ‘The McLaren 650S GT3 is to GT racing what the 650S is to McLaren Automotive, with the new car improving on all areas of a strong existing product, and making it more engaging at the same time. It shares the heart and soul of its road-going sibling with the same 3.8-litre twin turbo engine and the carbon fibre chassis, but turns things up to 11 in terms of aerodynamics. It is truly fit for purpose, but is now accessible to an even wider breadth of abilities and, as with the road car, it provides unprecedented levels of comfort, safety and driver engagement.’
The company’s engineers have updated the suspension geometry and installed wider tracks along with a FIA-approved roll cage which is lighter and more comfortable than its predecessor as it provides the driver with more leg and headroom. Also inside the cabin is a bespoke steering wheel while behind it is a specially developed digital dash display.
McLaren has also announced that existing 12C GT3 owners have the possibility of upgrading their cars to the 650S GT3 specification which shares the same V8 3.8-liter twin-turbo engine. Until the 2015 season, McLaren plans on manufacturing and delivering 15 units of the 650S GT3 together with 15 upgrade packages.