McLaren GT has today confirmed that it will premiere its latest model at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, with the wraps set to come off the track-only 650S Sprint. This is a stripped-out race car version of the 650 and it will make its global debut alongside a number of other models from McLaren Automotive, and completes the brand’s display with four global debuts planned for the Californian event, including the McLaren P1 GTR.
Based on the recently launched McLaren 650S Coupe, the track-focused 650S Sprint is fitted with developments to the Brake Steer system, even more refined active aerodynamics and a race set-up for the ProActive Chassis Control (PCC). These upgrades deliver a more engaging GT racing experience, without losing any of the refinement and balance found in the road car.
As with the 650S, the aerodynamically optimized design of the 650S Sprint offers increased levels of downforce, and the revised air intakes carried across from the road car allow for optimized cooling of the 3.8-litre twin-turbo M838T engine. In the 650S Sprint, the proven powerplant is retained from the 650S road car, with a unique engine and transmission calibration to further enhance on-track drivability and driver engagement.
The cabin is fully track-focused and stripped out to minimize weight, but with no compromise to driver safety or comfort. Built around the lightweight and inherently strong carbon fiber MonoCell chassis, the interior also features an FIA-approved roll cage to further cocoon the driver. A lightweight carbon fiber HANS-approved racing seat, with full six-point harness, offers an optimized driving position, while an air-conditioning system is retained adding comfort. An integrated fire extinguisher system is also installed.
McLaren GT recently announced the 650S GT3 race car, which will be seen on the grid from next season, and the 650S Sprint shares a number of design features with its bigger brother. A larger motorsport fuel ‘bag’ tank with quick-fill connectors is added, as is optimized cooling through the larger GT3-developed front radiator with a GT3-inspired bonnet integrating radiator exit ducts, and the addition of front wings louvers to further optimize airflow over, and around, the bodywork.
