Built without the rulebooks, the McLaren Senna GTR is a Senna without the restrictive shackles of regulations. While we must admit that the McLaren Senna is outrageously amazing, the Senna GTR, however, is so much more. A track-only iteration of the Senna supercar, the Senna GTR is unfortunately not built for our roads. Unconstrained and uncompromised, it embodies the most extreme adaption of McLaren's performance engineering. As such, the Senna GTR is the lightest, fastest, most engaging, most aggressive — and probably the loudest — McLaren ever built.
It comes at a price, too. A huge price. Starting at $1.2 million, the McLaren Senna GTR is in a class of cars accessible only to the affluent. Also, only the luckiest of the affluent can own one, as McLaren is producing a mere 75 units of the track monster. However, there's no need to rush, as the McLaren Senna GTR is completely sold out, and here are some of the attributes that made it such an irresistible prospect.
8 Extremely Intense Powertrain
The Senna GTR’s powertrain is loaded. The track car is powered by a McLaren M840TR 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine which churns out raw juice of about 814 horses — that’s about 25 horses more than what the road-going Senna produces — at 7,250 rpm and 590 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm.
All that power is effectively distributed by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with the rear wheel at the receiving end. Notably, with such output, the Senna GTR engine remains McLaren’s most powerful combustion engine ever.
7 Unbelievable Power-To-Weight-Ratio
The power-to-weight ratio is the measurement of a vehicle’s performance to power output and weight. And as expected, it’s relatively higher in the Senna GTR in comparison with the road-going Senna. This is due to the Senna GTR’s extra power, which is gotten by recalibrating the engine’s ECU and taking off the second catalyst — thereby reducing exhaust backpressure.
With a dry weight of 2,619 pounds, the GTR gives a power-to-weight ratio of 694 horsepower per ton — the highest ever for a track-focused McLaren.
6 Carbon Fiber Tub
As with other extreme performance-oriented McLaren cars, the Senna GTR is drenched in carbon fiber. Probably the most ideal material when building for performance, carbon fiber is immensely strong and light. Its deployment starts from the center.
The Senna GTR’s tub features the McLaren Monocage III-R, which is the peak of McLaren’s chassis design for a complete race-focused performance. Completing the setup are FIA stamped 6-point harness mounting points and an integrated roll cage.
5 Amazing Exterior Form
The McLaren Senna GTR is carefully sculpted to aid its performance output, aerodynamically. With the heightened adoption of carbon fiber, the Senna GTR’s body is non-restrictively track-focused in surface form and function.
These attributes are highlighted on some of the Senna GTR’s external features which include its thoroughly increased dive planes and front splitter, as well as the integrated rear wing endplates and rear diffuser, all combining to give the car its irresistible demeanor with amazing aerodynamic performance.
4 Active Aerodynamic Appendages
Also, the McLaren Senna GTR features an extremely advanced aerodynamic style with revolutionary technology. A classic example of such is the Senna GTR’s active rear wing with air brake and drag reduction system (DRS).
This feature works in tandem with the front aero blades by automatically turning to either bring down the drag at high speed or optimize downforce when braking. The whole system seeks to enhance the Senna GTR’s weight transfer while managing the airflow for better performance outcomes.
3 Top-Notch Safety Technology
Subtlety must have been removed from Senna GTR’s engineering team, as observed with the adoption of raw driver-focused racing technology. One such technology taken from high-end endurance racing is the Anti-Collision Radar System.
The system’s importance on the track cannot be overemphasized, as it feeds the driver — whose vision would have been hugely reduced due to the use of a racing helmet — with vital real-time information of the distance and location of all other automobiles in the GTR’s immediate environment.
2 Heightened Racing Features
For one, the Senna GTR is loud... extremely loud. Nonetheless, communication hasn’t been better managed in a supercar this loud. The feedback system is robust. Featuring a Pit to Car radio and Intercom, communication with the crew flows easily at every pit stop.
The feature also aids communication with a co-driver or race coach that may be located anywhere on the track. Furthermore, the firm support from the FIA-certified super carbon fiber racing seats makes cornering and braking quite enjoyable.
1 Driving Improvement Features
It’s a shame the Senna GTR’s amazing aerodynamically sculpted exterior cannot be appreciated on our roads. Asides from the improved aerodynamic performance, the front splitter, and rear diffuser as well as the GTR’s dive planes and rear wing provide the car with a jaw-dropping outlook.
Also, focus and control are provided on the Senna GTR through its racing steering wheel and a fortified Race Driver Display. There’s also room for driver’s improvement through the VBOX HD recorded laps, which allows for driving playbacks and review, for technique improvement.