At the time of the Goodwood Festival, we introduced the McLaren 650S GT3. A model intended exclusively for the GT3 championship. Now comes to us the new proposal from McLaren, the 650S Sprint, which aims to democratize access to competition.
Unveiled to the public in Pebble Beach, the McLaren 650S Sprint will be the access to McLaren's racing range, with the 650S GT3 and P1 GTR as the brand's most exclusive proposals for the world of motor racing. A proposal that will meet those gentleman drivers customers who only want to do a few track-days, in a fast, modern, powerful but affordable car. Let's say it's a light version of a real GT3 car.
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Based on the 650S coupé, the 650S Sprint dispenses with all the comforts of a road car and is a version stripped of luxuries and destined exclusively for the tracks. A model that has an in-depth revision of the Brake Steer System systems, which automatically locks the rear inner wheel to help insert the vehicle into a curve, preventing understeer, while, when exiting the curve, the system acts as a self-locking differential, braking again the inner rear wheel in order to avoid wheel slip, thus attenuating oversteer.
The aerodynamic component has also been improved and the PCC (Pro Active Chassis Control) system now has a competition mode, so that the 650S Sprint provides the ultimate experience of a GT car, without losing its characteristic dynamic balance.
Mechanically, unlike the 650S GT3 – which has to comply with regulatory standards with power limitation – on the 650S Sprint the M838T block appears completely free of restrictions, delivering 641 horsepower. Both the engine and the transmission have adjustments and specific software to improve the track experience and the feeling of the pilot.
The entire adaptive suspension has been revised, giving the 650S Sprint a lower ground clearance. The wheels are 19 inches and have a central thread system. To help make changeovers even faster, the 650S Sprint already comes with pneumatic lifts.
Inside, we have a cockpit, fully focused on competition, stripped of the superfluous. All in the name of weight reduction. However, we can count on an FIA-approved roll cage, carbon fiber seat with the HANS system, 6-point seat belts and a fire extinguisher, for whatever comes and goes. In order for the pilot not to tower inside the 650S Sprint, the air conditioning system was maintained.
Unlike its brother 650S GT3, the aerodynamic enhancement package via Computation Fluid Dynamics – which includes GT wing and carbon deflectors and lighter components such as polycarbonate glass – are optional on the 650S Sprint.
Factors that end up being reflected in the final price, where McLaren intends to democratize access to the competition a little more, that is, the 650S Sprint is offered for about half the price of the 650S GT3, more precisely about 246,700 euros compared to 416,000 for the GT3. And this all before taxes…
