Automobiles Review

Tag: Racecar

  • Ford Mustang GT3 Racecar

    The best-known sports car will compete in the world’s most iconic endurance race as the Ford Mustang GT3 takes on the challenge of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2024.

    The Mustang GT3 race car, based on the all-new 2024 Mustang Dark Horse, was unveiled to the racing world today during the centenary celebration on the eve of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Mustang race car boasts a bold, colorful new look from Troy Lee, who is recognized as one of the premier motorsports designers in the world. The legendary Mustang GT3 represents Lee’s first foray with Ford race cars.

    With the reveal, Ford officially enters Mustang into the global FIA GT3 category. Ford’s most recent triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was in 2016 with the Ford GT.

    “Ford and Le Mans are bound together by history. And now we’re coming back to the most dramatic, most rewarding and most important race in the world. It is not Ford versus Ferrari anymore. It is Ford versus everyone. Going back to Le Mans is the beginning of building a global motorsports business with Mustang, just like we are doing with Bronco and Raptor off-road.”
    -Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company CEO
    Fresh Branding, New Logo

    To coincide with the unveiling, Ford also is revealing new, global Ford Performance branding – a cleaner, simplified look that will now be featured on all its racing vehicles.

    This expressive and engaging new identity will help position Ford Performance as a standout lifestyle brand with a sporting mindset. The new Ford Performance mark is easier to integrate across various environments and spaces, including car liveries, merchandise/apparel, display assets, parts/accessories and in advertising.

    Continuing Relationships with Two Longtime Partners

    Ford Performance extended its relationship with two longtime partners in Multimatic and M-Sport for the basis of this project. Multimatic, builders of the iconic Ford GT, were also involved in the Ford GT race program and will help build and support the Mustang GT3s, while longtime World Rally Championship partner and two-time championship winning team M-Sport will assemble the Ford Performance-developed 5.4-liter Coyote-based V8 engines that power this powerful new pony.

    “For a project like the Mustang GT3, we turned to two of our most trusted partners in the motorsports world to help bring this vehicle and program together,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “I know we’ll all be as thrilled as Ford fans when Mustang begins racing at the highest levels of GT racing in 2024.”

    The Mustang GT3 race car features a bespoke short-long arm suspension, rear-mounted transaxle gearbox, carbon fiber body panels, as well as a unique aero package developed to meet GT3 targets.

    Proton Competition Becomes First WEC Customer Team for Mustang GT3

    Before going to Le Mans in 2024, the Mustang GT3 will compete in various GT3 series across the globe in the hands of customer teams.

    The first customer team, announced today, is Proton Competition. Based in Ehingen, Germany, Proton intends to campaign a pair of Mustang GT3s in the FIA World Endurance Championship, starting in 2024.

    “This is a very important program and an exciting moment for our organization,” said Proton Competition team principal Christian Ried. “The Mustang is a great brand and this is an important step for our team. We look forward to joining with Ford starting in 2024.”

    Ford Performance will also field a two-car factory race program with Mustang GT3 in IMSA’s GTD Pro class. This will be managed by Multimatic Motorsports and begin at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

  • Maserati GT2 Racecar

    Maserati is back. The Autodromo Varano de’ Melegari was the setting for the track debut of the high-performance GT2, the car that epitomizes the House of the Trident’s return to racing. The shakedown at the Parma circuit is the precursor to a series of events marking the run-up to the official unveiling of the car at the end of June in Belgium, at the 24 Hours of Spa.

    Maserati is ready to reawaken the memories that saw it feature in the exciting GT championships, with a hungry new car designed to evoke the exploits of its forerunner, the glorious and victorious MC12.
    The Trident’s history in motorsport is a story of successes spanning almost a century, of a unique and distinctive DNA, and of a passion being rekindled by the brand’s link with the potent legacy from the past and its drive towards the future, in which racing is an essential component.

    Maserati GT2 is speed, elegance, style, and innovation incarnate. A car designed to be a masterpiece of performance: extraordinary and breathtaking between the kerbs, created to celebrate Maserati’s return to the circuits. A new chapter begun in late 2022 with the announcement of its participation in the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, complemented by its inclusion in the GT2 European Series, as part of the strategy developed to bring the Trident back on track.

    Conceived and designed by Maserati engineering in tandem with the Centro Stile Maserati, to ensure the aesthetic quality standards typical of the brand, the Maserati GT2 inherits the extraordinary 463kW/630CV Nettuno V6 engine from the Maserati MC20, taking it to a higher level.

    The most appealing technical specifications include the all-new patented MTC (Maserati Twin Combustion) technology based on F1 engines, the ultra-light carbon fiber central monocoque – an excellent solution to have a good weight-power ratio – and the lightweight full composite bodywork, where the aerodynamic features are exploited to the limit to improve the vertical load but at the same time ensuring the best efficiency in terms of drag. Much attention has been given to the development of the correct balance of the aerodynamic load, whereas the bottom has been developed specifically to work best in synergy with the front splitter and rear wing (adjustable); it has quick-release removable bodywork for optimized component replacement; the chassis features high torsional and bending stiffness.

    The power steering is full-electric. All suspension components of the car are specific racing components – there will be adjustable shock absorbers and adjustable anti roll bars in both the front and rear. Likewise, the electronics. The 6-speed sequential racing gearbox and steering wheel paddle shift with electrical rotary gearshift actuator evoke adrenaline-fueled emotions.

    The carbon fiber dashboard and the 10” display integrated into the dashboard result in a futuristic, intuitive cabin, complemented in the bodywork by the Maserati Corse-specific painting and livery option (Blu Infinito).

    A gem of mechanics and engineering, the spearhead of innovative technical solutions, with futuristic, minimalist, and sculptural interiors referring to the extreme lines of the body, the Maserati GT2 is dedicated to the racing teams and gentleman drivers due to take part in the GT2 Championships.

    The Trident single-seater with covered wheels is the result of a winning synergy between Maserati men and women and the avant-garde design and style that has always distinguished the creations of the Italian brand, complemented by its unmistakable flair of luxury, even when the road becomes a track. The fierce GT2 is therefore getting ready to explore new horizons, to consolidate and define Maserati’s racing future in the world of motorsport.

    Andrea Bertolini, Maserati test driver, commented: “The first few days are always quite unique, even more so for me when I was fortunate enough to bring Maserati to success at the GT1 World Championships, where I won four titles. We are now about to get back on track with yet another wonderful car. We’ve done lots of trial runs and early feedback is positive. Getting back behind the wheel of a GT was really exciting, and I could see everyone involved was very enthusiastic and motivated. We’ve focused on developing a product that not only stands up to its competitors but is also an ideal car for our gentleman drivers in terms of handling, comfort, and performance. We want them to experience a unique feeling in this car. In the last few months, we’ve been working intensively in the simulator, courtesy of the commitment of a fantastic team. I’d like to thank them, and the most positive aspect is that to follow these first few days, we’re making it all a reality is to the very greatest extent. We have an intense series of test days ahead of us, to get us ready to get back on track.”

  • BMW M Hybrid V8 Racecar

    The BMW M Hybrid V8 has arrived in North America and was presented to the public in its racing colours for the first time at a launch event at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles (USA). The first prototype developed by BMW M Motorsport in 25 years will sport an avant-garde livery which leverages the iconic BMW M colours when it competes in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023. The four core drivers who will take their place at the wheel of the two BMW M Team RLL cars were also announced at the Petersen Museum. They are BMW M works drivers Connor De Phillippi (USA), Philipp Eng (AUT), Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR). When the car makes its race debut at Daytona (USA) in January 2023, they will receive big-name support from IndyCar series driver Colton Herta (USA).

    Like the camouflage livery which the BMW M Hybrid V8 utilises while testing, the design for the racing season also comes from BMW Group Designworks under the programme leadership of Michael Scully. The works livery represents a significant departure from the heritage-based ‘Icons of IMSA’ camouflage with a future-facing coat of arms comprised of modern, bold, fractal blocks of the iconic M colours and the M logo. “These elements have been deconstructed to form what at first might appear to be an abstract triangular pattern across the BMW M Hybrid V8, but when viewed from the side, the M logo clicks right into place. – M reconstructed, if you will,” Scully explained.

    The design also features ‘Mbedded’ references to the BMW logo, and utilises both blue and purple elements to pronounce the natural colours of electricity. Additionally the works livery carries BMW M Motorsport’s now-signature matte black extension ahead of the cockpit beneath the driver’s side of the windscreen, thereby extending BMW’s interior design hallmark of driver orientation to the exterior of the car for enhanced driver focus. In fact on the race-ready cars this non-reflective matt element will be the only black foil on the car, as all other black areas shown at the launch will remain in their native carbon fibre finish. “This measure allows us to reduce weight by 25 to 30 percent compared to a conventional livery for race cars. Less is more,” said Scully.

    The debut of the BMW M Hybrid V8’s works livery also gives the first chance to see the car’s surfaces in non-camouflaged guise and to identify aspects of the design, which may have been previously obscured. The layout of the laser-lit kidneys coincides with the open, flow-through architecture of a modern prototype race car, and the air which passes beneath and through them is fundamental to the aerodynamic performance of the car; both in terms of cooling, but also for efficiency of downforce. The front of the car invokes the faceted hood, nested BMW logo, and inverted ‘Y’ configuration between the kidneys of the BMW M Vision Next, and is a great example of BMW’s showcars informing not only the production cars, but also the race cars. These elements, flanked by signature twin headlights on each side, make the front of the car unmistakably a BMW.

    The kidneys’ lighting uses an exciting new technology. Innovative Swiss company L.E.S.S. SA has developed a new approach as an alternative to LED lighting where light is generated by a nano-active optical fibre trigged by a laser. This provides ultra-bright and ultra-uniform light within a very small form factor such that it considerably saves weight and energy when embedded onto a car. This technology was also presented as a future vision for the first time in the BMW M Vision Next in 2019. “

    Transitioning around the side of the car, other BMW icons become apparent: the forward-leaning shark nose, the boomerang-shaped guide vane just behind the front wheel arch that summons the BMW M4’s air breather feature, the M mirrors and a modern interpretation of the Hofmeister kink. The sidepod carries a defined diagonal feature line which punctuates the radiused surface above it and at the same time also helps define the requisite front diffuser airflow exit. “A great example of the interdependence between BMW design DNA and dedicated efficiency which makes racing projects like this so engaging,” said Scully.

    Data on the BMW M Hybrid V8 chassis.

    Length 5,100 mm
    Width 2,000 mm
    Wheelbase 3,150 mm
    Minimum weight 1,030 kg

    Technical data on the BMW M Hybrid V8 P66/3 engine.

    Type V-shaped Otto four-stroke twin-turbo engine
    Capacity 3,999 cc
    Number of cylinders 8
    Cylinder design Cast aluminium cylinder block and cylinder head,
    cylinder lining as iron layer in LDS procedure
    V angle 90 °
    Bore 93 mm
    Stroke 73.6 mm
    Cylinder spacing 102 mm
    Valves per cylinder 4
    Engine speed max. 8,200 rpm
    Output (regulated) approx. 640 hp
    Torque approx. 650 Nm
    Injection High-pressure direct injection at 350 bar
    Oil system Dry sump system with six-cell oil drain pump and oil tank

  • Acura ARX-06 Racecar

    Acura Motorsports today released the first official images and details for the all-new, electrified Acura ARX-06 prototype sports car, which will make its competition debut next January at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

    The latest in a line of successful Acura endurance racing prototypes, the ARX-06 features Acura-specific bodywork and aerodynamics based around an all-new ORECA LMDh chassis which utilizes an electrified hybrid power unit featuring an equally new, bespoke twin-turbocharged 2.4 liter V6 internal combustion engine designed, developed and manufactured by Honda Performance Development [HPD] the racing arm for Acura Motorsports in North America.

    The public unveiling will take place Friday, August 19, at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering, in Carmel, California.

    “Precision Crafted Performance is at the heart of everything Acura does,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and Acura brand officer.  “If you’re a performance brand, you have to go racing. It’s that simple.  Both the existing ARX-05 prototype and our production-based NSX GT3 have proven to be race- and championship-winning designs on tracks all across North America.  Now, with the introduction of the new, electrified Acura ARX-06, we look forward to facing off against other premium automotive brands from around the world – and continuing our winning ways.”

    “HPD has 30 years of race-winning and championship-winning history,” said David Salters, HPD President and Technical Director.  “Not only in endurance sports car racing, but in developing championship-winning Honda Civic-based racing cars, the powertrain for the Baja Ridgeline race truck, Formula Regional Americas and Formula 4 powertrains with the Type R engine, and of course the Indy 500 and the IndyCar Series.

    “We are HPD.  We race, we develop our engineers and technology through racing.  We have an amazing and unique racing legacy, both past and present. It’s what we do as Acura’s – and Honda’s – North American racing organization. We are looking forward to the challenge of racing Porsche, BMW and GM in IMSA’s pinnacle GTP championship.  We are very cognizant this is a big step for us.  We have a lot to learn, but that is why race.”

    “The new Acura ARX-06 has elements of our Indy-winning technology, Honda Formula One technology and Rolex 24-winning technology in it.  This was achieved using HPD’s world-class simulation, design, development and manufacturing technologies; that our own engineers have developed, tested and validated.  We are very proud of that.  Now the challenge and hard work really starts, including grueling 24 hour simulations, and learning how to maximize all aspects of performance.”

    Powertrain

    The Acura AR24e power unit was developed by Honda Performance Development to bring electrification to the Precision Crafted Performance of Acura’s endurance sports car racing program.  The complete hybrid power unit is based around the Acura AR24e internal combustion engine (ICE), an all-new bespoke 2.4-lliter, twin-turbocharged direct injection racing V6 that was designed, developed and manufactured by HPD.

    At 2.4 liters, this is the smallest displacement ICE conceived by HPD for endurance racing, yet still meets the performance target of 500 kW as measured at the rear axle by torque meters.  It features a 90-degree V-angle to reduce its center of gravity and polar moment of inertia. In addition, the combustion chamber has been designed to run on sustainable low-carbon fuel.

    The hybrid power plant includes an IMSA-specified electric Bosch Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Williams Advanced Engineering battery pack.  The MGU is contained in a common transmission casing and gearbox internals provided by Xtrac.  The battery, within the chassis survival cell, is built by Williams Advanced Engineering. The HPD Electrical Group completed both hardware and software development to best match the spec MGU and battery pack to the Acura ICE.

    “We’ve taken the challenge presented by this new rule package from IMSA, and developed what we believe is a very competitive solution,” said Pierre Descamps, who led HPD’s powertrain design team for the ARX-06.  “We’ve gone in a new direction for HPD in the design of the ICE.  It is still a V6, which of course for Honda is well-known, but we have incorporated several new elements which we believe will make best use of the electric MGU and battery pack. Our new engine will rev to the maximum 10,000 rpm set by the rules, so it also makes a wonderful sound!”

    Chassis

    Both IMSA in North America and FIA World Endurance Championship rules require manufacturers to use one of four approved prototype chassis, fitted with IMSA-homologated, manufacturer-designed and branded bodywork and engines.

    In the case of the ARX-06, HPD and Acura have elected to continue their successful relationship with ORECA [ORganisation Exploitation Compétition Automobiles].  Since moving into chassis design and construction in 2007, ORECA has produced a series of winning sports prototypes, including the Acura ARX-05.

    “We’re extremely pleased with our relationship with ORECA,” said Mark Crawford, HPD Large Project Leader for the ARX-06.  They’ve been great partners throughout both our ARX-05 DPi program and now with the ARX-06.  The GTP [Grand Touring Prototype] project has brought with it a new set of challenges and, while you certainly can see the Acura ‘family resemblance’ to our previous collaboration, the ARX-06 is an entirely new design.”

    HPD’s Vehicle Performance Group worked closely with the ORECA design team and engineers to simulate chassis layout geometries and lap time optimization studies.  They also “coded” the new car into HPD’s static and dynamic Driver in the Loop simulators to begin development of the car’s vehicle dynamics and vehicle dynamic control systems.

    Critical to the projects was a clean sheet hybrid powertrain control system, brake-by-wire and vehicle dynamics control system – all written in-house at HPD.  This control system architecture was implemented on a Formula 1-spec ECU hardware platform.  HPD also utilizes its custom, in-house developed ultra-high speed data logging system.

    Salters praised the ORECA-HPD relationship during the development process.  “I would like to note the stand-out collaboration between the ORECA and HPD engineering groups. Working with the extremely talented ORECA engineers on chassis and aero design and powertrain installation has been a real pleasure. Both groups have put their heart and soul into this intense project and sophisticated race car,” he said.

    Bodywork and Aerodynamics

    Exterior styling of the Acura ARX-06 was led by the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles, California, in conjunction with HPD and chassis-supplier ORECA, one of the chassis suppliers approved for prototype competition in both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the World Endurance Championship.

    HPD’s aerodynamics engineers and in-house CFD aero engineers worked with the Acura styling studio and chassis builder ORECA to help develop the styling and maximize the aerodynamic performance envelope of the ARX-06, while keeping it within the homologation boxes as specified by IMSA and the FIA.

    “The process we used in creating the exterior design for the Acura ARX-06 is exactly the same as how we create a new Acura passenger vehicle,” said Dave Marek, Acura Executive Creative Director.

    “As part of our Precision Crafted Performance Brand Promise, we treated it as an integral part of our lineup.  The same world-class stylists that lead Acura production car design created initial sketches, then pared those down to several potential designs. Next, we created a scale model, did aero and wind tunnel model testing, and brought HPD and our partner teams in for their feedback,” Marek recounted. “The design continued to be refined throughout the testing and evaluation process, until we came up with a final treatment that met our performance goals while maintaining all-important Acura styling cues. It’s been an exciting process.”

    Driver and team input was also sought throughout the design process. One effective change was a revision to the placement of the rearview mirrors – a seemingly minor adjustment that in fact has a large effect on vehicle aerodynamics. Using VR headsets, the drivers were able to sit in the car virtually and recommend a much lower placement for the side mirrors, improving both the aero efficiency of the ARX-06 and visibility for the drivers.

    Partner Teams

    Acura will continue its partnerships with the proven, race- and championship-winning Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing organizations to campaign a pair of hybrid-powered Acura ARX-06 entries in the featured GTP category of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, North America’s premier endurance sports car racing championship.

    In addition to sweeping all three major IMSA prototype titles in both 2019 and 2020 – for Manufacturers’, Drivers’ and Teams – Acura has won the Rolex 24 at Daytona in both 2021 and ’22, including a 1-2 finish for the manufacturer at this year’s twice-around-the-clock endurance classic.  Additional podiums at Sebring, Watkins Glen and the Petit Le Mans in 2021 resulted in a sweep of IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup titles for Acura and partner Wayne Taylor Racing.

    This season, Wayne Taylor Racing has recorded four wins and a second to rank lead the IMSA Drivers’ and Teams’ championships heading into the final race of the season at Road Atlanta in October.  Meanwhile, Meyer Shank Racing started off 2022 with a second consecutive Acura victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and five second-place finishes in eight races to rank second in both the drivers’ and teams’ standings.

    These results have unofficially clinched the 2022 IMSA Manufacturers’ Championship for Acura; while the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles will go to either Meyer Shank Racing or Wayne Taylor Racing.

    Acura ARX-06 Development Timeline 

    “We started with the rule book, a challenging spirit and an open mind,” said Salters. “Then our engineers got to work, utilizing all of the vehicle performance, powertrain simulation and development tools we have at HPD to address the critical areas for performance, including weight, power, packaging, center of gravity, etc.”  Here is a timeline of the development process for the Acura ARX-06:

    • The HPD Vehicle Performance Group used simulation tools to determine the overall vehicle envelope and key requirements that would need to be met to maximize performance.  Efficiency, power, weight distribution, aero balance, center of gravity, tire energy, hybrid management and chassis stiffness were some of the parameters included in determining the core architecture guidelines.
    • This process determined the key architecture for the Internal Combustion Engine [ICE], displacement, fuel injection and turbocharging strategy, and the intercooler layout.
    • The Design Group then schemed different concepts and weight aspects over a three-week evaluation period.
    • The Acura ARX-06 concept was then finalized in a single meeting of HPD technical leaders, who then signed off on the project.
    • Prototype parts were designed and produced for testing in HPD’s in-house single cylinder research engine. These parts were manufactured within 4 weeks.
    • The HPD Development Group tested these concepts, analyzing performance, efficiency, combustion characteristics, heat rejection etc.  Results were analyzed and compared to the initial simulations – the simulation results were spot-on and validated.
    • Simulation work also was carried out for a novel intercooler packaging and anti-tune induction concept to reach the performance targets while allowing the downsized engine to meet the 500Kw rules target without damaging combustion “events”.
    • Next, parts were designed and built for the V6 internal combustion engine, including machined from billet sump, block, front cover and ancillary parts made using in-house agile manufacturing techniques.  Five months after the initial simulation and concept study, the Acura V6 ICE ran on the dyno and met all performance targets.
    • The complete control system – written jointly by HPD’s Electrical Control Systems group, Vehicle Performance and Performance Application groups – was prototyped in HPD’s Hardware-In-the-Loop and Driver-In-the-Loop simulator systems.
    • The control system was then taken to the state-of-the art transient dyno facility at HPD where engineers tested the complete hybrid powertrain – ICE-Hybrid MGU-Gearbox. This system simulates key aspects of the cars during track running and the durability cycle, including running complete “laps” of a circuit, including 12- and 24-hour endurance runs with shifting, acceleration and braking all reproduced on the dyno.
    • The Aerodynamic Group at HPD made use of its in-house CFD capability during the design phase to optimize aerodynamic and cooling performance.  The group worked closely with ORECA on the overall aerodynamic concept of the ARX-06.  This has been recently validated in a full-scale wind tunnel test.  HPD aerodynamists, using advanced simulation techniques, are working with IMSA to ensure the safety of the racing car, and that it satisfies stringent flip-over criteria for high speed prototype sportscars.

    Acura ARX-06 Details

    • Will compete in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
    • Carbon fiber monocoque chassis manufactured by ORECA
    • Acura-specific bodywork, aerodynamics and cooling systems
    • Double wishbone, pushrod suspension front and rear, Penske dampers
    • FIA-specified roll cage structure, carbon fiber driver’s seat shell, six-point safety harness, fresh air intake system, on-board fire suppression system
    • Bespoke Acura 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged, direct injected V6 internal combustion engine designed, developed and manufactured by HPD, mated to IMSA-specified electric Bosch Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and Williams Advanced Engineering battery pack
    • IMSA-specified XTrac six-speed, sequential, paddle-operated transmission, rear-wheel drive
    • Chassis dimensions:  5100mm length x 2000mm width x 1060mm height (above reference plane); 3148mm wheelbase

  • Pro-Am McLaren Trophy championship to feature bespoke Artura race car at GT World Challenge Europe events in 2023

    2023 McLaren Artura Trophy Racecar

    McLaren Automotive, the luxury supercar manufacturer, today announces the McLaren Trophy, a new racing championship designed to challenge and develop Pro-Am driver pairings within a sociable environment at some of Europe’s best racing circuits alongside Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS events when the series makes its debut in 2023.

    McLaren Automotive is firmly established as a front-running force in GT racing, with the 720S GT3 and 570S GT4 – the latter soon to be replaced by the new Artura GT4. The Artura will be central to this new one-make supercar championship for aspiring and established professional and amateur GT pairings.

    All-new Artura Trophy race car

    At the heart of the McLaren Trophy is the all-new Artura Trophy race car. It is based on the Artura GT4 but freed from Balance of Power (BoP) regulations. This provides the benefit of enhanced power and downforce levels to increase engagement and reduce lap times to a level closer to GT3 machinery.

    The Artura Trophy also shares much with the highly acclaimed McLaren Artura road car, including the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) which makes it incredibly rigid and safe. Allied to the all-new 120-degree twin turbo V6 engine – freed from BoP regulations to its full 585PS in the Artura Trophy – it is sensationally fast in a straight line. With all BoP weight also removed and an enhanced aerodynamic package – which includes a high-downforce wing – it is supremely agile in both low and high-speed corners. An enhanced exhaust system means that it will sound just as spectacular as it looks.

    2023 McLaren Artura Trophy Racecar
    2023 McLaren Artura Trophy Racecar
    2023 McLaren Artura Trophy Racecar
    2023 McLaren Artura Trophy Racecar

    Unlike the road car, the Artura Trophy will run combustion-only power in order that owners will also be able to easily convert their cars to GT4-specification by adjusting the engine management software and changing the aerodynamic package. This means that they will also be able to compete in GT4 race events without needing to purchase a new race car.

    The similarity to the Artura GT4 also means that the Artura Trophy’s astonishing capabilities are accessible to amateur drivers. It is also designed for serviceability, with an adjustable Bosch engine management system, inboard radiators and a rear deck that can be lifted away without needing to remove the rear wing.

    “I’m really looking forward to seeing the new Artura Trophy car in action. From my experience in both motorsport and at McLaren I genuinely believe that this is a great race car and a massive step on from anything we’ve ever produced before for this type of championship. There’s nothing that exists currently to offer the same prospect to aspiring or professional and amateur GT drivers and already we’ve had huge interest in both the new car and the championship.”
    Ian Morgan, Director of Motorsport, McLaren Automotive

    Cars will be run by independent teams with the existing 570S Trophy cars also eligible for the series. Many of these cars are owned by competitors from the previous Pure McLaren GT Series and McLaren looks forward to welcoming them to this new championship, where the 570S Trophy cars will compete for class wins and championships in 2023. While this car is no longer in production, McLaren Customer Racing continues to support owners and teams with replacement parts and technical backup.

    Premium paddock experience

    While the on-track action is expected to be fiercely competitive, McLaren Trophy drivers will enjoy a relaxed and sociable paddock environment promoting their involvement within the McLaren family.

    Included within this is a McLaren Concierge service aimed at providing a seamless experience including hotel bookings and transfers, ensuring that the competitor’s focus is entirely on their on-track performance.

    Central to the paddock is the McLaren race centre, which takes inspiration from the McLaren Formula 1 team, where drivers can entertain friends, family, sponsors and team managers, host meetings or simply relax. Competitors will also benefit from the racing paddock environment experienced by the fortunate few who race for McLaren.

    Iconic circuits and high-profile events

    The new championship will join the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS bill and will be branded McLaren Trophy, Europe, placing the competitors in front of GT teams, drivers and fans and making it an ideal destination for McLaren owners and supporters. Races will also be streamed live in professional broadcast quality.

    Race weekends will begin with two 60-minute practice sessions on the opening day to give the drivers the best opportunity to prepare for the two races ahead. Each race day will follow the same format, with a 15-minute pre-qualifying session, 15 minutes’ qualifying, followed by a 50-minute race with mandatory pit stops for driver changes. For Pro-Am pairings, the Am driver must qualify the car and start the races, putting them at the centre of the action.

    Both the Artura Trophy and 570S Trophy cars will benefit from high-performance tyres supplied by tyre partner Pirelli, using its extensive experience in both Formula 1 and GT racing.

    The inaugural McLaren Trophy season will feature five races at iconic Grand Prix circuits including Paul Ricard, Hockenheim and Barcelona, with a round on the bill of the famous Spa 24 Hour race.

    2023 McLaren Trophy, Europe calendar

    June 2-4 Paul Ricard France
    June 30 – July 2 Misano Italy
    July 27-30 Spa-Francorchamps Belgium
    September 1-3 Hockenheim Germany
    September 29 – October 1 Barcelona Spain

     

    “We are excited to announce the McLaren Trophy, featuring the new Artura Trophy race car; an elite motorsport championship with a premium paddock experience that is the epitome of the McLaren brand. As the world of Pro-Am GT racing continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming both old friends and the next generation of McLaren drivers to our paddock and many exciting seasons of racing with the spectacular new Artura Trophy race car.”
    Gareth Dunsmore, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Automotive