Ciprian Florea wrote:In 2015, McLaren debuted the new Sports Series, a family of sports cars slotted below the Super Series and aimed at the likes of the Porsche 911 Turbo. Having already launched three models, the 570S, 540C, and 570GT, the Brits are now pushing the Sports Series into motorsport territory with a track-only version called the 570S GT4.
As the name suggests, the race-bred coupe was developed to GT4 specifications, which makes it eligible for an array of European racing championships, including the GT4 European series. Created in conjunction with McLaren GT, the brand’s motorsports division, and GT racing specialists CRS GT Limited, the 570S GT4 will be raced in the 2016 season of the British GT championship. One example will be run by Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse before the car is homologated for GT4-spec championships globally and sold to customers for the 2017 season.
"The launch of the Sports Series has broadened McLaren to a new audience, introducing technologies to the sports car market and to a new group of customers. The 570S GT4 is doing the same in the motorsport world, and will bring the opportunity to own and race a McLaren -– previously limited to a very small number of people –- to a much wider group," said Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive.
Along with the new race car, McLaren also announced that it has appointed Ansar Ali as Motorsport Director. Former CEO of Caterham Cars and current chief of Zeos Cars, Ali will be responsible for on-going strategy and management of McLaren’s motorsport activities.
Exterior
Much like the 650S GT3 race car, the 570S GT4 is a more aggressive and aerodynamic interpretation of the standard model. Although recognizable as a Sports Series model, the GT4 has many unique features to brag about. Up front, the race-spec model stands out by means of a vented hood and a redesigned bumper. While the road-going car has a three-piece splitter, the GT4 sports a one-piece unit. Other aero add-ons include small, curved winglets on each side of the bumper, a larger intake under the nose, a tow hook, and quick-release pins for the hood.
Onto the sides, the GT4 is as stock as they get, save for the mildly revised skirts and lightweight, race-spec wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires. Around back, the most notable difference is the massive wing on the decklid, with everything else, including the diffuser, apparently identical to the standard model.
The racing package is rounded off by a black-and-orange livery that pays tribute to McLaren’s successful motorsport past. The show car sports number 59 as a nod to the Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 McLaren F1 GTR, as well as orange accents on bare carbon-fiber components such as the front splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser.
Interior
There are no photos or specific details of the interior as of this writing, but it should be loosely based on the road-going model and retain the main features, including the dashboard and the center console. McLaren did mention that the 570S GT4 shares the same carbon-fiber MonoCell II chassis architecture as the other models in the Sport Series, and it features an FIA-approved rollcage and fire extinguisher system. The race car should also feature lightweight door panels, race-spec bucket seats with six-point harnesses, a revised center stack, and a bespoke instrument cluster.
Drivetrain
Not surprisingly, motivation comes from the same twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-8 engine that powers all the other McLaren supercars. McLaren didn’t reveal output information, but due to the FIA’s regulations for the series and the car’s reduced curb weight, the GT4 is likely less powerful than the standard 570S, rated at 562 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of twist.
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, which is similar to the one offered in the street-legal models.
McLaren was rather brief with the details, but did mention that the drivetrain also includes a high-temperature radiator with enhanced exit ducts and a revised cooling system.
The race-spec suspension system has two-way adjustable dampers with coilover springs front and rear, and an on-board air jacking system as standard. The cast magnesium alloy wheels are shod with slick Pirelli tires, while the braking system has been updated for improved performance at the track.
