McLaren 650S GT3 racer unwrapped at Goodwood

McLaren has taken the wraps off the McLaren 650S GT3 today in the grounds of the famous Goodwood Estate. The British marque’s latest track-honed racer will participate in GT3 championships across the globe from 2015.

Built on the company’s highly successful McLaren 12C GT3, which has re-established McLaren at the front of the GT grid over the past three seasons, the 650s GT3 has big shoes to fill.

Based on the recently unveiled McLaren 650S, and built around the same lightweight carbon fibre MonoCell chassis, the GT3 iteration has been honed using CFD technology and the latest in automotive and motorsport simulation to offer enhanced aerodynamics and improved levels of cooling.

At the front, an aggressive splitter and larger air intakes dominate the purposeful new look, incorporating the familiar McLaren ‘face’ – albeit a more aggressive and menacing version, while on the flanks, the all-new lightweight carbon fibre bodywork wraps around reprofiled air intakes, which offer further optimised cooling.

The fixed carbon fibre rear wing works in tandem with the large carbon fibre splitter to complete the management of air as it is worked across, through and beneath the sleek lines of the 650S GT3.

Optimising engagement for the wide range of drivers competing in GT racing is a revised suspension geometry, wider track and updates to the overall setup. In addition, the updates have been made with added emphasis on endurance racing, pulling from the learnings over the past few years, and responding to feedback from the customer teams.

The McLaren 650S GT3 is equipped with a twin turbo 3.8-litre V8 ‘M838T’ engine. Race-tuned with a McLaren-developed ECU offering increased functionality to incorporate turbo boost and transmission shift control, the engine is coupled to an all-new six-speed sequential motorsport transmission. The 650S GT3 produces around 500PS (368 kW) – the same power as the 12C GT3.

Bringing the storming 650S GT3 to a stop is a set of uprated brakes with six-piston callipers on the front, and four-piston on the rear, with ventilated discs (380 x 35mm front / 355 x 32mm rear).

“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,” said Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive.

“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.”

Deliveries of the McLaren 650S GT3 will commence from late 2014, and the competitive debut with customer teams in GT3-homologated series will start in 2015.

McLaren 650S GT3 Technical Specification

• Chassis/Body
  o  McLaren carbon fibre MonoCell with aluminum front and rear sub frames
  o  Bespoke lightweight carbon fibre/composite body panels
  o  Left hand drive
  o  FIA approved safety roll cage
  o  Air-jacking system
  o  Colour – customer choice
• Aerodynamics
  o  Front splitter and dive planes
  o  Rear wing – fully adjustable with gurney
  o  Front and rear diffusers
• Engine/Management
  o  Race prepared 3.8L V8 twin turbo McLaren M838T
  o  McLaren Electronics ECU incorporating turbo boost and transmission shift control
• Transmission
  o  Six-speed sequential motorsport transmission pneumatically actuated via steering wheel mounted paddles
• Electrical System
  o  Lightweight motorsport specification wiring and connectors
  o  Electronic power management system
  o  Membrane type switch panel
  o  Auxiliary power supplies for fitment of team equipment (radio etc)
• Data System
  o  McLaren Electronics ‘ATLAS’ data system
  o  Motorsport digital dash display
• Front/Rear Suspension
  o  Double wishbone adjustable for ride height, camber and toe
  o  4-way adjustable dampers with coil over springs
  o  Motorsport axles with single wheel retaining nut
  o  Adjustable anti-roll bars
  o  Forged aluminium wheels: Front 12.5” x 18”, Rear 13” x 18”
• Steering
  o  Electro-hydraulic power assisted steering
  o  Unique McLaren GT composite steering wheel incorporating key driver switch controls and map settings
• Fuel System
  o  Motorsport ‘bag tank’ system with 125L capacity
  o  Motorsport ‘quick-fill’ system
• Brake System
  o  Monoblock calipers with ventilated discs: Front – 6 piston caliper, 380Ø x 35mm disc; Rear – 4 piston caliper, 355Ø x 32mm disc
• Cockpit
  o  McLaren GT bespoke composite seat shell
  o  Six-point racing harness
  o  Motorsport pedal box – adjustable position
  o  Lightweight carbon fibre dash with integrated driver display and switch panel
  o  Motorsport fire extinguisher system