McLaren Senna GTR’s Classic Features

When you hear the terms, McLaren and Senna, together, you’re undoubtedly thinking of the formidable partnership between the Woking team and the Brazilian great that dominated Formula One in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

With the launch of the McLaren Senna hypercar in 2018, that famous alliance resulted in one of the most track-focused cars of the decade, aiming to deliver one of the purest connections between a supercar and its driver.

Monocage by McLaren

When the MP4/1 was unveiled in 1981, McLaren was the first to use carbon-fiber monocoque survival cells in Formula One. That technology has now made its way down to their road cars, with the Mercedes-McLaren SLR supercar from the 2000s serving as the first example.

That treatment extends to the Senna GTR as well. The Monocage III-R is McLaren’s most race-focused chassis, and it made its way into the hypercar, ensuring an extremely strong and light carbon-fiber tub that is race-ready, complete with FIA certified 6-point harness fixing points.

Untainted power

To attain the Senna GTR’s 211 mph peak speed, you’ll need a lot of horsepowers to counteract the ridiculous levels of downforce produced by the car’s bodywork. As a result, McLaren turned to one of its own engines, removing the 720S’s powerplant and beefing it up.

The Senna GTR’s M840TR 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine delivers 825 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque. The McLaren does not include a hybrid system to supplement the engine, unlike other modern hypercars. It’s complete internal combustion insanity.

Senna GTR Suspension

There’s a lot of downforces and a lot of power. There was only one thing remaining to ensure that the Senna GTR could put it all to good use: a suspension that was up to the challenge.

As a response, McLaren resorted to their GT program and fitted the Senna GTR with a GT3-spec suspension. To make the most of the Pirelli slick tires that come standard with the hypercar, it has a wider track and more severe camber than the road-legal Senna.

Giant Aerodynamics

The McLaren Senna GTR was designed with a single goal in mind: to set the fastest lap times on racetracks all over the world. In doing so, the Woking-based company ensured that the hypercar remained firmly anchored to the ground at all speeds.

The bodywork was able to produce up to 1000 kg of downforce at 155 mph thanks to its aggressive exterior design, that monster rear wing and diffuser combo, and other active aerodynamic bits and bobs.

Drag Reduction System

The Drag Reduction System, or DRS, is a Formula One system that reduces the rear wing’s downforce in the straights to increase peak speed and facilitate overtaking. The rear wing of the McLaren Senna GTR not only has F1 technology, but it also pivots to increase downforce under braking for better stability and easier scrub speed.

It’s known as the active rear wing, and it’s a device that functions as an air brake and a drag reduction system.

VBOX HD telemetry system

The McLaren Senna GTR isn’t just designed to be a driver-focused hypercar; it also has a built-in VBOX HD telemetry system that can capture driver inputs from a variety of sensors as well as video footage from their laps.

With the Senna GTR’s telemetry system, you can hone your technique and lower your lap times in specific parts of a race track, as it provides valuable information in fine-tuning the car and the driver to ensure that lap records are smashed and the purest driving experience is extracted to its full potential.

Pit-To-Car Radio Intercom

Because the Senna GTR is exclusively a track car, McLaren decided to include a pit-to-car radio intercom system to relay information from the pit to the driver and vice versa. Whether it’s a request to pit or a notification of a change in track conditions, the system would keep all parties informed and prepared to respond to any circumstance on the track.

Radar System

Blindspot warning indicators and lane departure warning systems are usually standard in today’s automobiles. McLaren, on the other hand, pushed things to a whole new level by equipping the Senna GTR with a radar system.

The anti-collision radar technology, similar to a jet fighter, offers real-time information regarding the distance and position of other vehicles on the track, allowing the driver to concentrate on driving rather than scanning for other cars during a wheel-to-wheel duel.

Rear Wing

The Drag Reduction System, or DRS, is a Formula One system that lowers the rear wing’s downforce in the straights to increase peak speed and facilitate overtaking. The rear wing of the McLaren Senna GTR not only has F1 technology, but it also pivots to increase downforce under braking for better stability and easier scrub speed.

It’s known as the active rear wing, and it’s a device that functions as an air brake and a drag reduction system.

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