McLaren F1 1993

The McLaren F1 is a sports car designed and built by Gordon Murray and McLaren Automotive. The March 31 March 1998 set the record for the fastest car in the world, 240 mph (391 kmh). In April 2009, the McLaren F1 cars hit by three more quick than pure speed, but still the fastest car naturally aspirated. The car has many designs and proprietary technologies. It is lighter and has a simpler structure than even the most modern of its rivals and competitors, despite a siege of more than most sports cars like the driver's seat is located in the center. It has a powerful engine and it's aimed at the track, but not to the extent that compromises the functionality and comfort in everyday life. It was designed as an exercise in creating what its designers hoped to be considered the ultimate street car.

Although not designed to track planes, racing cars modified edition of the vehicle has won numerous competitions, including 24 hours of Le Mans in 1995, where he met a special prototype racing car. Production began in 1992 and completed in 1998. A total of 106 cars produced some variations. Concept design chief engineer Gordon Murray was common among designers of high performance cars: low weight and high power. This was achieved by using high-tech and expensive materials like carbon fiber, titanium, gold, magnesium, and Kevlar. McLaren F1 was the first car to use carbon fiber monocoque chassis.

The idea was first conceived when Murray was waiting for a flight back from the fateful Italian Grand Prix in 1988, Murray drew a sketch of a car of three sports and has proposed to Ron Dennis, when the idea struck to create the ultimate road car, a concept that is strongly influenced by the Formula One experience and technology in society and therefore reflect the skills and knowledge by the McLaren F1 . Quote from Gordon (translated from Japanese original article): "At that time, we were able to visit with Ayrton Senna (the late F1 Champion) and Honda Tochigi Research Center visit with the fact that at the time, McLaren F1 Grand. Prix ​​cars, used Honda engines. If it is true, I thought it would have been better to put a bigger engine, when I drove the Honda NSX, all cars Ferrari-reference, Porsche, Lamborghini, I was used as reference in developing my car vanished from my mind.

Of course, it is believed the car, the McLaren F1, needed to be faster than the NSX, but the NSX's ride quality and handling would become our new design target. Being a fan of Honda engines, which are then moved to the Honda Research Center in Tochigi, on two occasions and asked to consider building the McLaren F1 4.5-liter V10 and V12. I asked, tried to persuade me, but ultimately could not convince them to do so, and ended McLaren F1 with a BMW engine. "

Later, a pair of cars Ultima MK3 kit, chassis numbers 12 and 13, "Albert" and "Edward", the last two MK3s used as "mules" to test various components and concepts before the first cars were built. Number 12 was used to test the gearbox with a 7.4 liter V8 engine from Chevrolet to mimic the torque of the BMW V12, and various other components such as seats and brakes. Number 13 was the test of the V12, plus exhaust and cooling system. When McLaren was done with the cars they destroyed both to keep journals, and because they did not want the car to be associated with "kit cars".

McLaren F1 GTR 1995

Built at the request of race teams, such as those owned by Ray and Thomas Bscher Bellmer, to participate in the BPR Global GT Series, it was the McLaren F1 GTR race car built for this purpose which introduced a system of motor management changes that increased the power output - however, the air restrictors mandated by racing regulations reduced the power back to 600 hp (447 kW) at 7500 RPM. Cars significant changes included changes to body panels, suspension, aerodynamics and interior. McLaren F1 GTR would make his greatest success with the first, third, fourth, fifth and 13th seats in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995, beating manufactured sports car prototypes. A total of nine McLaren F1 GTR to be built for 1995.

You can follow the success of the McLaren F1 GTR in 1996, McLaren will be further developed the '95, which leads to increases in size, but the weight loss. Nine F1 GTR spec built in 1996, while others were still 1,995 cars a year by pirates. McLaren F1 GTR '96 chassis # 14R is important to be the first non-Japanese car to win to contest the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC). The car was driven by David Brabham and John Nielsen. Lost about 100 kg in 1995, edition of the GTR and the engine was considered to be for detuned 600 HP racing regulations.

With the F1 GT homologated, McLaren could now develop the McLaren F1 GTR for the 1997 season. The weight was reduced and a sequential gearbox was added. The engine was a bit destroked to 6.0 instead of the previous 6.1L. Due to the heavily modified bodywork, the McLaren F1 GTR '97 is often referred to as the "Longtail" through the rear bodywork being extended to increase support back. A total of ten McLaren F1 GTR '97s were built. The weight has been reduced to a total of 910 kg.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 2011

McLaren GT uusi auto valmistaja Kilpi, Joka yhdistää asiantuntemus McLaren Racing, McLaren Automotive yes CRS Racing paljastettiin McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Kilpi Yes Automatic suunnitelmat kehittämisohjelmaa 2011. Uusi McLaren MP4-12C GT3 on automatic rakennettiin ensimmäinen McLaren FIA GT sarjan Kilpi Koska McLaren F1 GTR in 1997 valmer tuotantoon. 12C GT3 perustuu uuteen MP4-12C tehokas urheiluauto Ryhmes insinöörejä yes, yes suunnittelijoita testikuljettajan kanssa laaja kokemus yes GT Formula 1 Racing koonnut toteuttaa mukauttamista Hiili alustaan ​​Racing perustuvia erittely 12C.

McLaren GT, a manufacturer of new car racing, which brings together the expertise of McLaren Racing, McLaren Automotive and CRS Racing unveiled the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 race car and plans for a development program in 2011. The new McLaren MP4-12C GT3 will be McLaren's car first built in the FIA ​​GT racing series since the McLaren F1 GTR finished production in 1997. The GT3 12C is based on the new MP4-12C high-performance sports car and a team of engineers, designers and test pilots with extensive experience in Formula 1 and GT race was assembled to implement the process adaptation of 12C carbon chassis specification of the race.

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Group CEO SAGD: "McLaren Racing blodet i har, og det var naturligt skridt the Tagus and carnivores MP4-12C Gore bil og det til way den mest pålidelige that effekte hver og Bil Bil in GT3 kore PA. sharpness, vile sin afbalancerede præstation career has resolved af, hvilket betyder, carnivores wrong with me in teknisk vælge Spécifik VAERS, der Sikri in alle er driver until I adgang til med FA 12C GT3 grænse præstationer Lethe. "Vi har med Careers CRS arbejdet 12C er så og design Sikri UNTAET udviklingsprogram som muligt På McLaren Racing in the city i ansætte udvikle Formula 1 billion. CRS Teamet til hos er in debt afgørelser velkvalificeret På form område, det har da i ry GT3 racing Bedstead Biler, og Forst, hvad der success af fa i kræves konkurrencedygtige debt level motorsport.

"Meanwhile, McLaren Racing is able to offer new levels of technology for GT3 racing. No other car in GT3 in 2012 will come with a carbon road car frame, or a steering wheel and related technologies in a car Formula 1. "The GT3 will MonoCell carbon 12C 12C and same wheel control design used by Lewis Hamilton in the MP4-24 Formula 1 car also work closely with suppliers of past and present Formula: .. Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin, for example, this mix of street car and Formula 1 technology and experience will be a great advantage for anyone to 12C GT3 race in 2012.

McLaren GT aims to provide the highest quality, most reliable and driveable car GT3 grid of 20 cars delivered Privateer teams racing in Europe in 2012. A unique combination of McLaren Racing and CRS technology and development methodology is a counterweight to the appointment of experts and GT McLaren drivers of success to develop at 12C GT3 races challenging during the 2011 season. McLaren GT will debut the new McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Series race this season Blancpain Endurance Circuit de Navarra in Spain, followed by France, Magny-Cours and Silverstone in England. As part of the development program 12C, GT3, GT McLaren is also expected to enter a total of 24 hours of Spa race resistance.

Firsts customers for new McLaren MP4-12C GT3

As McLaren GT prepares to enter two cars in the Blancpain Endurance Series race at Magny Cours on 27 August 2011, the new GT race car manufacturer is announcing that the first 20 MP4-12C GT3 race cars available to purchase for racing in 2012 are now sold. Like the 12C road car on which the 12C GT3 race car is based, demand has outstripped supply.



Production of the 12C GT3 has been deliberately limited, as McLaren GT plans to develop close relationships and provide ongoing engineering support to its customers racing in 2012 and beyond. This limited production run of race cars will be distributed among private owners and race teams for racing in Europe next year. A full list of clients for the new 12C GT3 will be published in advance of the 2012 season, and will include:



- ASM Team

- Andrew Tate

- Apex Motorsport

- Boutsen Energy Racing/Ginion Group

- Doerr Motorsport

- Gulf Racing

- J.A.S. Motorsport

- Klaas Hummel

- Leon Price

- Von Ryan Racing







McLaren GT began development of the 12C GT3 in March, when the first iteration of the stunning new race car undertook debut tests at the MIRA proving ground and Silverstone Stowe Circuit in the UK. Subsequent tests at two of Europe’s most challenging new circuits; Circuito de Navarra in northern Spain and Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, were followed by a race debut in the British GT Championship at Spa-Francorchamps early in July. At the end of July, three examples of the 12C GT3 competed in the Total 24 hours of Spa.



McLaren GT Project Manager Andrew Kirkaldy said: "The new 12C GT3 has gone from its first ever shakedown to a 24 hour endurance race in a matter of a few months. That is a huge achievement for the car and its new componentry, as well as the team responsible for its development.



"Our new customers appreciate that taking a race season to develop the 12C GT3 means we are able to deliver a level of reliability and driveability that exceeds their expectations of new race cars. Like the 12C road car, the GT3 version is based on a carbon ‘MonoCell’ chassis and has an all-new engine and transmission arrangement, as well as a bespoke aerodynamics package. In tests and at races this season we have seen these technologies prove to be robust and efficient. Our experiences during this race season are helping us refine the 12C GT3’s technical credentials."





The 12C GT3 race car is based on the groundbreaking 12C sports car. McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh said: "This is an exciting time for McLaren. In 2011 McLaren Automotive has launched what I believe is the most innovative sports car in the world and now a network of the world’s best car retailers has begun opening showroom doors to customers of the 12C. A new £40m McLaren Production Centre will officially open later this year and development programmes for McLaren Automotive’s future range of sports cars are well underway.



"The technological expertise we have in McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive is now being introduced to a different level of motorsport by McLaren GT. Since the launch of McLaren GT we have been overwhelmed by the number of enquiries received to purchase the 12C GT3. Our new customers are leaders in GT racing, and we’re confident that we will deliver to them the the most efficient, reliable and easy to drive car among the competition when it lines up on the grid next year



"Our clients are looking forward to receiving a GT car full of Formula 1 technology, and we are committed to ensuring ownership of the 12C GT3 is as enjoyable as racing it."





The development team at McLaren GT includes senior executives from McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing. The development programme for the 12C GT3 is therefore advanced through the knowledge of specialists in aerodynamics, advanced simulation methods and vehicle dynamics engineering.



The 12C GT3 will be supplied with a steering wheel of the same design employed by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. McLaren GT is working with Formula 1 suppliers past and present in developing the 12C GT3, including Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin.



McLaren GT set the price of the new MP4-12C GT3 at £310,000. Customers of the car have been encouraged by the promise of no hidden costs and the opportunity to work with McLaren GT engineers throughout 2012 in developing the 12C GT3 to their own race specification.



| McLaren

McLaren GT returns to the Spa-Francorchamps

Ten drivers to compete in three MP4-12C GT3 race cars at Spa-Francorchamps on 30-31 July. McLaren GT returns to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit this weekend for Total 24 Hours of Spa, following a successful race debut there in the British GT Championship early in July. The second race in the MP4-12C GT3’s development programme will see ten experienced racing drivers pilot three cars in the 12C GT3’s first ever 24 hour race.

The McLaren GT driver line-up for the Total 24 Hours of Spa includes CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy and McLaren Automotive Chief Test driver Chris Goodwin. Both are Directors of the new McLaren GT company, which is led by McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh and includes McLaren Racing Head of Vehicle Engineering Mark Williams.



McLaren GT is using the 2011 race season to develop the 12C GT3, with 20 cars due for delivery to privateer teams for GT3 series racing in 2012. Chris Goodwin said: “I was very happy with the performance of the 12C GT3 in its debut race at Spa. We secured an amazing pole position at the first attempt and importantly for future customers; the 12C GT3 was reliable, fast and easy to drive.

“I’m delighted with the quality of the drivers we have enlisted as we take the 12C GT3 to its first 24 hour race. This level of endurance racing is a crucial test for the car technically, and we need the best possible team working with us to ensure we receive intelligent, objective feedback on the 12C GT3 driving experience. We will use this feedback as we continue to develop the car in readiness for customers to go racing next year.


“We will be taking the opportunity at Spa to work with a future McLaren GT customer, VonRyan Racing. We want to develop close relationships with all our customer race teams and this experience will be valuable in developing our customer support programme for 2012 and beyond.”




| McLaren

McLaren open its first showroom in Germany

McLaren will open its first showrooms in Germany today with McLaren Düsseldorf and McLaren Hamburg set to open their doors in time for the 2011 Formula 1™ German Grand Prix which will take place at the Nürburgring this coming weekend.

A total of four dealers in Germany were selected by McLaren to offer the best in customer sales and service for a range of McLaren cars, beginning with the ground-breaking new MP4-12C high-performance sports car. Every showroom will exhibit a piece of history to highlight McLaren’s rich heritage with each McLaren showroom displaying a real McLaren race car, driven by some of the finest racing drivers in the world.



Customers in Düsseldorf can look forward to MP4/5 which took Alain Prost to a world championship title in 1989, while Hamburg’s car enthusiasts will be impressed with MP4/6, the car in which Ayrton Senna won his third, and last championship title, in 1991. The remaining two dealers in Frankfurt and Munich will open in autumn this year.

Available video footage includes an edited and b-roll version of the showroom opening events as well as sound bites from McLaren Automotive Sales Manager for Germany, Andrew Skey, and McLaren Düsseldorf Brand Manager, Jens Nothelle.



| McLaren

2011 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Review

2011 McLaren MP4-12C GT3... Rookie luxury automobile designer and manufacturer, McLaren GT, is beginning to make waves yet again as they prepare to release their newest offering to the high-performance sports car market and the supercar automobile arena. The new McLaren MP4-12C GT3 is an unprecedented McLaren car configured for FIA *GT series racing since the McLaren F1 GTR model ceased production in 1997.

Emerging from a strategic tie-up with Mercedes-Benz that brought the limited production SLR McLaren sports cars between 2003-2009, McLaren GT has now developed its own flagship high-octane sports car scheduled to be launched in time for 2011 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 season—and rightfully so, given the long and illustrious race car pedigree quintessential to the McLaren brand. But the design, engineering and testing team at McLaren GT are not resting on their Laurels by keeping to their comprehensive development program so that the 2011 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 meets the discerning standards of the most formidable race car connoisseur.

This performance-balanced light-weight race car is innovative in engineering design specs: 12 C GT3 (de-tuned to 500 PS providing maximum power) and a 3.8-liter twin turbochargers ‘M838T’ McLaren V8 engine (with a power output of up to 493 HP) defined by a TAG-400 self-contained compact engine system and data logger for race cars designed and produced by McLaren Electronic Systems. To date, initial demands for the first 20 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 units exceed earlier expectations.

 

Source

La nueva transmisión de doble embrague de McLaren: la más ligera y compacta de su clase

The McLaren MP4-12C’s new Sequential Shift Gearbox (SSG) is not only the lightest and most compact in its class; supplier Oerlikon Graziano says it also sets new standards for the refinement and durability of a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

“McLaren has a very clear understanding of its brand and of the type of cars that it should make. This is reflected in the technologies and innovations that are chosen for their powertrains,” explains Oerlikon Graziano head of automotive transmissions Paolo Mantelli. “As well as being immensely fast and dynamically capable, the cars must be comfortable, refined, efficient and a pleasure to drive every day. We worked closely with McLaren Automotive’s engineers to develop a new transmission that would help them meet these targets.”



A DCT-type transmission was the natural choice as it combines smoothness and refinement with the possibility to change gear quickly with no torque interruption and therefore no reduction in acceleration. It also allowed a highly sophisticated control system, developed in conjunction with world-leading DCT controls specialist Vocis (a subsidiary of Oerlikon Graziano), whose UK-based team has managed some of the world’s most challenging and prestigious DCT programmes.

The compact dimensions were driven by McLaren’s desire to maximise passenger space without compromising dynamics. A three shaft architecture was chosen because the parallel secondary shafts help to minimise gearbox length, allowing the engine to be mounted further back. All eight ratios use Oerlikon Graziano’s high-performance synchronisers, further optimised to allow substantially faster changes without compromising durability.

“We wanted to achieve genuinely fast, smooth shifting without any of the ‘tricks’ that can be employed to make a DCT feel fast,” says Vocis managing director Mike Everitt, who’s team also calibrated the transmission.

“The secret is to get the very best out of the whole control system with a highly-optimised interaction between the software and the hardware. This ensures that the responses are not just quick and accurate but are also consistent and progressive. That means rigorous attention to the fluid dynamics and to the design and calibration of the control algorithms, which are constructed using our proprietary architecture.”


An unusual feature of the McLaren transmission is a ‘pre-cog’ facility that can make the already class-leading change time feel almost instantaneous. The driver can pull the gear up/down paddle to the first detent position, commanding the transmission to engage the next gear and preparing the oncoming clutch. When the paddle is pulled to the second detent, the gear shift is completed in a fraction of the time required by a conventional DCT. The system also makes the shift more engaging than typical DCTs with single-pull paddle shifts.

McLaren’s passion for weight reduction led to extremely sophisticated analysis of the transmission hardware with numerous iterations so that the maximum amount of material could be removed without compromising strength or stiffness. “McLaren set very high standards for durability too, so everything was tested in a virtual environment, then on purpose-designed rigs at our laboratories before whole-vehicle testing,” says Mantelli.

Rig testing was also used to validate the designs for the very high dynamic loads that the car can deliver. “At 1g, the oil will be at 45 degrees to the horizontal. The McLaren can significantly exceed 1g both cornering and accelerating and substantially exceed it under braking. Its dynamic performance is phenomenal, which makes managing oil flows critically important,” explains Oerlikon Graziano’s DCT programme manager Alberto Noto. “As the world’s leading supplier of transmissions for high-performance vehicles, Oerlikon Graziano has developed specialist test techniques that provide insights into these challenges and allow a high level of design refinement, helping us to improve performance and durability while also reducing weight.”

The very low weight is also important in reducing vehicle CO2 emissions, which were further cut by meticulous attention to the efficiency of the overall SSG system. Low friction bearings were specified and fluid thermal management was optimised. The result is a significant contribution to the vehicle’s ground-breaking CO2 performance.

The new transmission is manufactured at Oerlikon Graziano’s plant in Luserna, Italy, using a combination of precision automation and traditional craft skills to allow consistently high-quality manufacture in low volumes. Comprehensive end-of-line functional testing, using custom-built automated systems, ensures that every transmission delivered to McLaren meets their demanding requirements for Britain’s newest supercar.

Oerlikon Graziano has also recently started production of transmissions for the new Lamborghini Aventador and for the new Aston Martin Vantage S, each one using a different technology carefully matched to the character and technical requirements of the vehicles.

| Oerlikon Graziano

McLaren desvela el equipo y el programa de desarrollo del MCLAREN MP4-12C GT3

McLaren GT, a new race car manufacturer which brings together the expertise of McLaren Racing, McLaren Automotive and CRS Racing, today unveiled its GT3 car and plans for a 2011 development programme.

The new McLaren MP4-12C GT3 will be the first McLaren car built for FIA GT series racing since the McLaren F1 GTR finished production in1997. The 12C GT3 is based on the new MP4-12C high-performance sports car and a team of engineers, designers and test drivers with vast experience in Formula 1 and GT racing has been assembled to undertake the process of adapting the carbon chassis-based 12C to racing specification.



Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Group Chief Executive Officer said: “McLaren has racing in its blood and it was a natural step to take our MP4-12C road car and turn it into the most reliable, efficient and easy to drive GT3 car. Every car on the grid will have its performance balanced by race rules, meaning our objective must be to select a technical specification that ensures any driver is able to access the 12C GT3’s performance limit with ease.

“We have worked with CRS Racing to ensure the 12C’s design and development programme is as close as possible to one McLaren Racing would employ in developing a Formula 1 car. The team at CRS is well qualified to shape decisions in this area as they have an outstanding record in racing GT3 cars, and understand what is required to be successful in that level of competitive motorsport.

“In return, McLaren Racing is able to bring new levels of technology to GT3 racing. No other GT3 car in 2012 will be supplied with a road-car carbon chassis, or a steering wheel and other associated technology from a Formula 1 car.

“The 12C GT3 will be supplied with the 12C’s carbon MonoCell and the same steering wheel design employed by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. Plus, we are working closely with Formula 1 suppliers past and present: Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin for example. This blend of road car and Formula 1 technology and experience will be a great advantage to anyone racing a 12C GT3 in 2012.”

Drivers and FIA approved races confirmed for 2011
McLaren GT aims to deliver the highest quality, most reliable and most driveable car on the GT3 grid when 20 cars are delivered to privateer teams for racing in Europe in 2012. The unique combination of McLaren and CRS Racing’s technology and development methodology is matched by McLaren GT’s appointment of experienced and successful racing drivers to develop the 12C GT3 at challenging races over the 2011 season.

McLaren GT plans to debut the new MP4-12C GT3 at this season’s Blancpain Endurance Series race at Spain’s Circuito de Navarra, followed by Magny-Cours in France and Silverstone in England. As part of the development programme for the 12C GT3, McLaren GT also expects to enter the Total 24 Hours of Spa endurance race.

CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy will be joined by 2010 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver Oliver Turvey and Portuguese racing driver Álvaro Parente in the McLaren GT driver line-up for the 2011 development programme.

McLaren fans eager to see McLaren’s first GT racing car since the legendary McLaren F1 GTR can expect to see the new 12C GT3 driven up the famous Hill at Goodwood Festival of Speed from 01-03 July 2011.


McLaren MP4-12C GT3 development targets
McLaren GT comprises a team of designers, engineers and test drivers with vast experience in developing successful race and road cars. Marcus Waite, McLaren GT Chief Engineer, began his career working with the McLaren Formula 1 Simulation Group. A move onto the Formula 1 team where he was Senior Test Team Engineer for many years was then followed by his appointment to McLaren Automotive as Test Team Leader responsible for the new MP4-12C sports car. Combining practical experience of Formula 1 car development methodology and a deep understanding of the 12C road car’s technical specification is invaluable to McLaren GT.

Marcus Waite said: “We have defined the technical requirements for the 12C GT3 in the McLaren simulator and I am pleased to say that feedback from the three new drivers in the team means we can immediately focus on fine-tuning the set-up of the car, rather than address any fundamental changes.

“There is no substitute for having the 12C GT3 pound around the European circuits on which we plan to race, so that is exactly what we are doing. A varied circuit programme is vital. Circuito de Navarra in Spain is a great track: a mixture of slow and fast corners and long straights, meaning the new engine calibration we are testing has to undertake relentless accelerations from low speeds. A successful shakedown there means we are now confident of powertrain durability.

“We followed Navarra with a test session at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. The long, sweeping and fast bends of that circuit were a good test for the new oil tank we have designed for the 12C GT3. The oil is constantly moving and yet the new tank proved robust in that environment.

“These are just two examples of the way we will test every component of the 12C GT3 before delivering cars to race teams in 2012. I personally will not be satisfied until we have undertaken test programmes that significantly surpass the requirements of 3hr and 24hr endurance racing. We are committed to dealing with emerging issues that race teams often face in their first season running a new GT3 car and we will ensure our first customers receive a very reliable race car next season.”

Formula 1 simulator readies the new 12C GT3 for its track debut
On March 4th, virtually 30 years to the day that the world’s first carbon-based racing car, the McLaren MP4/1 was shaken down at Silverstone (March 5th 1981), the 12C GT3 also debuted at the UK circuit.

One week later, it took to the Circuito de Navarra in Spain for its first FIA circuit test. These shake down and test sessions followed months ofextensive testing on simulated versions of international race circuits including Silverstone, Circuit de Catalunya and Paul Ricard. In simulated tests, McLaren GT was able to fine-tune engine calibration, power steering, spring rates, weight distribution, gear ratios and differential settings.

Mark Williams, Head of Vehicle Engineering at McLaren Racing, said:“The new 12C GT3 was initially developed in the Simulator where we were able to fully explore the parameter space before defining the power, weight and downforce targets. We used Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to develop the aerodynamic configuration and then tested the various map shapes in the McLaren Simulator, working with the McLaren Automotive simulation team to define the vehicle set-up and access the resultant driveability. Being able to review our aero package and car set-up using a simulator developed for Formula 1 prior to first track running is unique. No other GT3 car will have been specified using this level of technology.”

Following the Spanish shakedown session, Andrew Kirkaldy Team Principal at CRS Racing and McLaren GT Project Manager, said: “The performance of the car in Navarra was testament to the work we were able to do in the McLaren simulator in selecting the right set-up for the car. The virtual and real world versions of the 12C GT3 felt near-identical.

“The new aerodynamic body panels and features designed for the 12C GT3 are of outstanding quality and markedly increase the dynamic performance of the car. This level of quality can only be achieved using FE design analysis and knowing how best to apply carbon fibre. McLaren has this knowledge in abundance.

A new aerodynamics package produced entirely from carbon fibre has been developed by McLaren Racing in compliance with GT3 regulations, incorporating a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front fenders.

In partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies, McLaren GT plans to offer its clients the opportunity to develop their 12C GT3 using bespoke programmes in the McLaren Simulator. Chris Goodwin said: “The simulator is a huge competitive advantage to McLaren Racing in developing its Formula 1 cars and to McLaren Automotive in developing its future range of sports cars.

“We recognise that the teams racing the 12C GT3 next year will be ahead of their competitors if they are able to use a bespoke McLaren simulation programme throughout the race season. We plan to announce full details of the simulation programme available to 12C GT3 owners and other potential clients later this year.”


The McLaren MP4-12C: The essence of a race car
Racing experience and development tools have played a key part in readying the 12C GT3 for its 2011 race programme. But, before the racing car takes to the competitive grid, McLaren, in the form of McLaren Automotive set out to develop a high-performance sports car that set new standards for speed, handling, efficiency, braking and driveability: formed from an obsession for aerodynamic purity and lightweight engineering. Assets and goals that make the McLaren MP4-12C a perfect road car from which to develop a race-winning GT car.

Once plans were agreed to take the 12C racing, key members of McLaren Automotive’s design and engineering teams were eager to support this natural step at McLaren.

Mark Vinnels, McLaren Automotive Programme Director, said: “It was an obvious decision to take the 12C racing. From the early stages in the car’s development we were integrating key members of McLaren Racing into the road car development team and this blend of experience and skill, combined with a ‘can-do’ attitude and desire to push what is technically possible, has led to both a great road car and a unique racing car. At the McLaren Technology Centre headquarters we walk past the McLaren F1 GTR that won Le Mans in ’95 every day. Racing has changed since then, and we have no plans to develop a McLaren to win Le Mans outright again, but car number 59 is truly inspirational for us all.”

Frank Stephenson, McLaren Automotive Design Director, said: “Conceptually, the 12C road car and future McLaren road cars are ‘easy’ cars to design. We strive for form that is driven by aerodynamic efficiency, and this rules out arguments over styling or unnecessary bodywork details that can easily become dated as fashions change. Our design team is passionate about designing cars that tell you what’s going on under the skin and remain relevant: we are an engineering company at heart and we shouldn’t hide that fact. That’s why supporting the development of the GT3 car was a great project to work on: the car needs more air to breathe and needs even greater downforce to hug the track. Yet it also has to quicken pulses as it goes about its business. The GT3 car really gets the heart racing!”

Under the McLaren Orange skin, the 12C GT3 shares the same 75kg carbon ‘MonoCell’ chassis as the 12C road car. Since the modern McLaren was formed in 1981, the company has used only carbon fibre for the chassis construction of all its road and race cars: it was a natural choice for the heart of the MP4-12C. Lightweight construction and manufacturing innovation through Resin Transfer Moulding was a priority for the engineers and designers responsible for the 12C’s chassis. The result is a road car that, at1301kg, is the lightest in the ‘core’ sector of the high-performance sports car market.

Andrew Kirkaldy said: “I believe the MP4-12C is an engineering masterpiece and that starts with its carbon chassis. A rigid chassis is hugely important to a racing driver. The McLaren MonoCell is unequalled as a safety cell, and our engineers can be sure that any changes made to the chassis set-up will have the desired effect because of its structural rigidity and predictability.

“The 12C is the first road car I have driven on a track and been truly overwhelmed by its dynamic performance. We have had to engineer certain aspects of our GT3 car to race specification, but I can’t think of a better place to start than the new 12C.”

CRS Racing to deliver on expectations of a new McLaren race car
The prevailing design concept of the new McLaren MP4-12C road car is ‘designed around the driver’, and this is just one example of McLaren’s uncompromising commitment to offering a new driving experience in road and race cars. CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy brings a decade of GT-level racing experience to McLaren GT and, as the team’s project manager, Kirkaldy was able to specify the cockpit and other attributes of the 12C GT3 to ensure restrictions normally associated with GT3 race cars are removed from the McLaren.

Andrew Kirkaldy said: “CRS Racing is delighted to be working with McLaren. The expectations are high and rightly so. Together we share the passion for design, engineering innovation and racing success that will ensure the 12C GT3 is the most competitive in the series from 2012.

“When Martin Whitmarsh first approached CRS Racing I was delighted that his main objective for McLaren GT was to make the needs of customers and drivers an absolute priority. That message transcends everything we are now undertaking. The development programme will be rigorous to ensure reliability, the technical specification of the 12C GT3 will surpass rival cars due to the links we have with Formula 1 technology suppliers, build quality will reflect the high standards introduced in the 12C road car, and the maximum performance will be accessible to drivers of varied experience levels.

“Before McLaren GT, CRS was a customer of race car manufacturers. On occasion, it became accepted that GT cars are unreliable straight out of the box because manufacturers deliver cars before the technology is proven for racing. At McLaren GT we know expectations are higher. We want our customers to experience outstanding performance with metronomic reliability.

“Our combined experience means we can identify problems encountered previously by race teams or drivers and address them. In the cockpit of the 12C GT3 for example, we have ensured that the pedal position is exactly in line with the seating and steering wheel positions. The driving position in many GT3 cars is compromised by comparison.”

Specification and performance reflect McLaren expectations
Just as with the 12C road car, McLaren is working closely with specialist suppliers to deliver an innovative and lightweight car. The 3.8-litre McLaren V8 twin turbo ‘M838T’ engine supplied in the road car also features in the 12C GT3, but de-tuned to 500 PS (from 600 PS) in order to provide optimum power for this performance-balanced race car.

The new MP4-12C GT3 will feature a unique engine calibration, bespoke racing transmission developed in partnership with Ricardo (who also developed the engine with McLaren) and a suspension arrangement tuned specifically for racing.

Mark Williams said: “With the tyre grip balance moving forward on the GT3 racing tyres it was necessary to move the centre of gravity further forward and the only way to do this was to reduce weight at the rear. A six-speed sequential shift gearbox by Ricardo was selected because a race-specific transmission is 80kg lighter than the Seamless Shift, seven-speed gearbox used in the road car. All the internal components have been proven in other racing series. We then challenged Ricardo to reduce weight further, meaning the unit has a bespoke casing design. That is just one example of how we are continually looking to reduce weight and increase efficiency.”

McLaren GT has selected the TAG-400 Engine Control Unit for the new 12C GT3. The TAG-400 is a compact, self-contained engine management system and data logger for race engines designed and built by McLaren Electronic Systems. The procurement of components from suppliers used to working with partners in Formula 1 is another example of McLaren GT delivering on its objective to build a GT3 car of unrivalled quality and reliability.

Williams said: “McLaren GT is a smaller organisation than McLaren Racing, but we are applying Formula 1 methodology in every possible area.

“We have worked with Akebono in Formula 1 for many years, and I am delighted to be able to call on such a committed and reliable partner for McLaren GT. Akebono will supply brake callipers and has also designed a bespoke brake pad for the 12C GT3. Our own experts from McLaren Racing have worked closely with Michelin to develop the correct tyre model for the 12C GT3 simulation programme. And strong supplier relationships are important to the suppliers themselves. I am sure that Mobil 1 and Ricardo will learn a lot working together on advanced lubricants for the 12C GT3’s new transmission.”

MP4-12C GT3: the customer commitment
With a rigorous development programme complete at the end of the 2011 GT3 season, McLaren GT will put in place a robust support programme to ensure all customers of the MP4-12C GT3 are able to stay competitive throughout the 2012 season.

Martin Whitmarsh said: “We speak regularly with prospective customers for the 12C GT3 now and these relationships will only strengthen when teams take delivery of the 20 cars we plan to build for next season.

“This is the first step into GT3 racing for McLaren and we understand that our focus on quality must be consistent through design, development, technology, finish and customer service. I am proud of the relationships McLaren Racing has with sponsors and partners now and I look forward to extending this to customers of the new MP4-12C GT3.”

Initial demand for the first 20 McLaren MP4-12C GT3s is high, with interest suggesting that McLaren and CRS Racing could sell the run five times over. However, neither company has any desire to stretch the market and lead to a risk of either oversupply or restrictions on customer service. Retained value in each GT3 car is also of high priority to McLaren and CRS, and the first customers when they take delivery.

Looking further ahead, around 20 more GT3s plan to be built through 2013 and ’14, but both McLaren and CRS remain open-minded and optimistic about developing racing cars for other series’ and markets.

Andrew Kirkaldy summed up the customer-oriented attitudes at both companies: “We will treat our customers with respect. Having spent time now at McLaren’s amazing headquarters, and seen at close hand their aspiration to launch a new type of sports car company, it is clear that they are, as ever, keen to do things better. Whether this is through race support, parts supply, or even the simple fact that the car’s list price is its price – there are no hidden extras – we want to make doing business with us a pleasure. If we can celebrate race wins together in spring 2012 then even better!”

| McLaren | Imágenes (Revista Coche)