McLaren is on a bit of a roll at the moment. Not only have the British-based manufacturer launched the MP4-12C replacement this year – the 650S – but its P1 hypercar is also attracting a lot of attention at the moment. Following in the footsteps of the 1990s McLaren F1 GTR, the new track-only P1 GTR will be shown at this weekend’s swanky Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event in California.
The company has now confirmed that it will show another model at this year’s event, the new 650S Sprint. Based on the 650S Coupé road car, the Sprint features several improvements for this track special. Updates have been made to the brake steer system, active aerodynamics and a race setup for the ProActive chassis control (PCC). The same 3,8-litre, twin-turbocharged M838T engine is used in the Sprint, although special engine and transmission calibration is used “to further enhance on-track drivability and driver engagement”.
As the picture above suggests, the cabin is stripped-out to make the car as light as possible while an FIA-approved roll cage enhances the safety level and requirements. There is also a six-point harness with a carbon-fibre HANS-approved racing seat.
McLaren has taken some of the race-inspired elements of its 650S GT3 race car and implement it on the Sprint. These include a fuel bag tank, GT3-developed front radiator and front wing louvers to improve airflow, to name a few.
The Sprint also has a lower ride height compared to the road car and recalibrated adaptive damping owing to the revised spring rates. On all four corners are new 19-inch centre-locking racing wheels wrapped in Pirelli racing slick tyres. Other highlights include a carbon-fibre rear wing and a polycarbonate windscreen.
In the UK the McLaren 650S Sprint will be priced from £198,000, but will also be available from McLaren dealerships worldwide.
