Gordon Murray (who we're duty bound to remind you has designed the original McLaren F1 supercar, as well as F1 cars for Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna) has started to release details of the track-only version of his new T.50 hypercar.
The road-going T.50, with its 660hp Cosworth V12 engine, manual gearbox, and central driving position, was exciting enough. The T.50s (currently the car's code-name) takes it to a whole new level.
Weighs just 890kg
For a start, it's lighter. Like, really light. Like 890kg light. That's about the same as a first generation Lotus Elise, but this one has a Cosworth V12 rammed in the back..."With an unwavering focus on performance, and free from road-going legislation and maintenance considerations, the T.50s will achieve astonishing performance on track, demonstrating the full extent of the car's capabilities. We've thrown everything at pushing this car beyond the levels of anything that's been done before - it's a celebration of British engineering and our team's extensive motorsport experience" said Murray.
Aero, as ever, is the key to going fast on track, and so the T.50s has lots of it, starting with a massive delta-wing rear spoiler that contributes to a total maximum downforce load of 1,500kg - 170 per cent of the actual weight of the car. There's also a new front splitter, full underbody aero, an adjustable diffuser, and the clever active fan that's also found on the road car.
While the road-focused T.50 features six different aerodynamic modes, The T.50s operates in High Downforce Mode at all times, with the underbody diffusor ducts open fully and the fan running permanently at 7,000rpm. The fan cleans the air from the car's upper and lower surfaces, with the underbody flow accelerated through the car's redesigned, sharply-raked rear diffusor. The other significant aerodynamic enhancement over the road-spec T.50 is an aero fin that runs from the top of the roof to the rear lip of the car, dominating the rear profile. The fin enhances cornering efficiency and stability, as well as cleaning and channelling air over the car's body towards the delta wing. As well as optimising downforce and stability when cornering, the aerodynamic package also enables the T.50s to generate around 2.5G - 3G under braking.
"Designing the racing car's aerodynamics has been extremely rewarding. My love for motorsport really fuelled the development of this car. The aerodynamics are so effective that the T.50s would be capable of driving upside down, and could do so at as little as 175mph" said Murray.
Up to 730hp
That might Cosworth V12 has come in for some attention, too. In spite of having 96 fewer kilos to haul around, compared to the road version, it has been given more power, bringing it to a nice, round, 700hp. completely revised cylinder heads and camshafts, a higher compression ratio, plus an all-new free flow exhaust system. "With no noise or emission legislation to contend with, we could unleash the full potential of the GMA V12 engine and its 12,100rpm. More than 50 components have been changed in the engine alone" said Murray.
There's also a clever snorkel air intake leading back to the engine from the roof, which (rather like an early 1990s F1 racer) has a bit of a supercharging effect, thanks to the way the inlet accelerates the incoming air, and that can boost the engine's power even further, lifting it to a whopping 730hp.
Inside, all of the interior comfort has been stripped out - no carpets, stereo, nor air conditioning. The driver still sits in the central seat (now a carbon-fibre affair with a six-point harness) and one of the outboard passenger seats has been removed too, leaving just the one opportunity to terrify the love of your life. The steering wheel is a Formula One-style rectangular carbon fibre design. Unlike a Formula One wheel, Murray stripped away all but the essential controls to leave traction and launch control functions, and buttons to activate the pit-lane intercom, and select neutral. The design allows for optimum grip and control, while providing perfect access to the wheel-mounted gearshift paddles. Replacing the road-going displays, T.50s customers will be able to view readouts that present key performance-focused information, including track lap times, G-forces and essential vehicle and engine data.
The road-going T.50 suspension is carried over, but retuned for track work, while the car actually uses standard Michelin Cup Sport 2 tyres, not bespoke track tyres. Stopping power is provided by the T.50's highly-capable Brembo carbon ceramic discs with six-piston calipers at the front, and four-piston calipers at the rear. The brakes feature enhanced cooling via new ducting around each wheel - a necessary development to cope with the extremes of heat that could be generated by the 2.5G-3G braking forces when racing. The oil cooling systems for the engine and transmission have been re-located to the sides of the car to improve airflow to the rear wing and allow for the central fin. The T.50s also runs much lower ride heights - 40mm lower front and rear - than the road car.
Training and trackside support
Each T.50s buyer receives a full 'Trackspeed' individualisation package that includes set-up, training, racing and support. Aiming to deliver a fully customisable and personalised racing experience, a broad spectrum of adjustments can be made to the T.50s to suit each customer's preferences and driving style. This individualised set-up process, alongside free reign on exterior colours and liveries will ensure that every T.50s is unique.
Beyond the bespoke ergonomic set-up of seat, steering wheel and pedals, the Gordon Murray Automotive team will work with each owner to set-up the car to each owner's specification. Owners can fine-tune the suspension, chassis balance and adjust the delta wing to optimise their car's performance to suit their driving style and requirements. Murray says : "I'd like to organise a series of racing events as part of our Trackspeed package to ensure the T.50s is driven regularly by owners. There will be nothing like the experience of driving this car. And hearing it... well, that will be something else! I'd like each of the 25 cars to be completely unique from set-up to paint finish."
Murray and his team have been in discussion with Stéphane Ratel of SRO regarding the potential for a GT1 sports club and race series for current supercars. The Gordon Murray Automotive team will offer a full range of pit, garage, and support equipment for the T.50s. And let's not forget - the last time one of Murray's road-going creations went racing, it (the McLaren F1) won the Le Mans 24hrs outright, in spite of being a totally road-legal car.
Almost two-thirds of the T.50 road car's 100-unit production run were pre-sold ahead of its reveal; and every model was sold out within 48 hours of the global unveiling on the 4th of August. Already, more than half of the T.50s models are spoken for. The 100 road-going T.50 cars will be built in the UK by Gordon Murray Automotive throughout 2022. Production of the 25 racing T.50s cars will begin in Q1 2023. It's priced at £3.1m (before taxes - about €3.5m at today's rates).