Automotive

McLaren releases interior images of "world's greatest track car to be," the P1 GTR

McLaren releases interior images of "world's greatest track car to be," the P1 GTR
McLaren's P1 GTR is a track-only version of its P1 supercar
McLaren's P1 GTR is a track-only version of its P1 supercar
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McLaren's P1 GTR is a track-only version of its P1 supercar
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McLaren's P1 GTR is a track-only version of its P1 supercar
The P1 GTR was announced in June this year
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The P1 GTR was announced in June this year
The P1 GTR has 986 hp (735 kw) of power
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The P1 GTR has 986 hp (735 kw) of power
McLaren says the new P1 GTR will be "designed and developed as the best drivers’ car in the world on the track"
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McLaren says the new P1 GTR will be "designed and developed as the best drivers’ car in the world on the track"
The P1 GTR will go into production in June 2015
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The P1 GTR will go into production in June 2015
McLaren says that purchasing the P1 GTR includes "unprecedented access to to the technologies, resources and expertise which have helped develop and train Formula 1 champions"
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McLaren says that purchasing the P1 GTR includes "unprecedented access to to the technologies, resources and expertise which have helped develop and train Formula 1 champions"
The P1 GTR packages also includes access to vehicle support, and driving events
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The P1 GTR packages also includes access to vehicle support, and driving events
The P1 GTR features a stripped-down interior aimed at minimizing weight
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The P1 GTR features a stripped-down interior aimed at minimizing weight
The P1 GTR steering wheel is based on that of the 2008 MP4-23 Formula 1 car and aims to make all of the controls as easily accessible and user-friendly as possible
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The P1 GTR steering wheel is based on that of the 2008 MP4-23 Formula 1 car and aims to make all of the controls as easily accessible and user-friendly as possible
The P1 GTR features carbon fiber DTM-style seat-shells
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The P1 GTR features carbon fiber DTM-style seat-shells
View gallery - 10 images

McLaren has continued the drip-feed of info about its upcoming P1 GTR. The company is aiming for the racing version of its P1 supercar to be the world's greatest track car, and it has some suitably mind-boggling specs. Now, a stripped down interior and F1-based steering wheel have also been revealed.

News that McLaren was working on the P1 GTR was initially released in June this year and included word that it would pack 986 hp (735 kw). That's serious business. Serious enough to put it right amongst the most powerful cars in the world, and a considerable increase from the production model's 903 hp (673 kw).

The P1 GTR features a stripped-down interior aimed at minimizing weight
The P1 GTR features a stripped-down interior aimed at minimizing weight

Whilst additional concept imagery was released in July, the concept was only first seen in the flesh at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August. Its muscular exterior certainly seemed to match the heavyweight power specs, but tinted windows meant we were left guessing as to the what form the P1 GTR's interior might take.

The P1 GTR steering wheel is based on that of the 2008 MP4-23 Formula 1 car and aims to make all of the controls as easily accessible and user-friendly as possible
The P1 GTR steering wheel is based on that of the 2008 MP4-23 Formula 1 car and aims to make all of the controls as easily accessible and user-friendly as possible

The answer to that, we now know, is a stripped-down, functional and high-tech form. McLaren says it has done away with everything but the essentials to minimize weight. The 90-kg (198-lb) carbon fiber MonoCage chassis is brought over from the road-going version of the car, and carbon fiber seat-shells also help to keep weight down. The seats themselves are DTM-style, with full six-point motorsport harnesses.

The P1 GTR features carbon fiber DTM-style seat-shells
The P1 GTR features carbon fiber DTM-style seat-shells

The main event in the cockpit is the newly developed steering wheel. The design is based on that of the 2008 championship-winning MP4-23 Formula 1 car, and aims to make all of the controls as easily accessible and user-friendly as possible, even when the driver is wearing a full race suit and helmet. Mode switches and other key controls are located in the center of the wheel, so that they can be easily accessed without the driver needing to take their hands off the wheel.

Testing for the P1 GTR is ongoing at various locations and the car is due to go into production in June of next year.

Source: McLaren

View gallery - 10 images
3 comments
3 comments
phissith
Wow, steering look just like Game pad.
Thomas Lewis
Incredible engineering,and I would love to own one,but for most of us mortals it will never happen,but why are mass produced cars so boring.Not a single light weight 4 cylinder hotrod.Why can't we build a affordable car,that goes like hell 0-60 in 4.0 seconds and gets 40 mpg plus ?,I'm betting we can,its more about why should we.Unless you spend 100,000 plus dollars,your not going to get anything remotely fun to drive,that is a shame,sad really..
Michael Wilson
@ Thomas Lewis....my sentiments exactly