New 650S GT3 promises to be quicker, cheaper and easier to drive than current 12C GT3McLaren will compete in the 2015 FIA GT endurance racing championship with a car that promises to not just faster, but cheaper to run and easier to drive: the 650S GT3.
The firm took the covers off its big Goodwood unveiling to a crowd this morning. Sharing the stage of McLaren's festival pavilion with the P1 road car, the 650S GT3 race car has been built by McLaren GT in just three weeks.
It promises not only to bring its maker more success in various endurance championship around the world, but also to be faster and more forgiving for what McLaren GT boss Andrew Kirkaldy describes as "the ambitious gentlemen racers who people the huge grids at these endurance races around the world".
Wider than the 12C GT3 it replaces, the 650S GT3 has a wider front track and bigger front wheels and tyres. "Like the 650S road car compared to the equivalent 12C, it's between 10- and 20 per cent better than the 12C GT3 in just about every way," says McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt.
McLaren chief test-driver Chris Goodwin first tested the car just days ago, and said: "straight out-of-the-box performance is often a very good indicator of what you've got in a racing car. We've ended up with a very competitive package in the 12C GT3 – one good enough for pole position and fastest lap at the Nurburgring 24 Hours the other week – but the 650S was very good straight away.
"We abused it for a day and a night without a failure. To drive, it felt fast and alive in your hands straight away. I'm sure it'll go on to score its drivers, owners – and us – some great results in years to come."
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