The new 570S GT4 and 570S Sprint join McLaren’s Sport Series line-up, with the former already pencilled in for a full British GT campaign this year.
[Not a valid template]What you’re looking at here is one of two track-only additions to McLaren’s Sport Series. Developed in conjunction with McLaren GT, the new 570S GT4 – unveiled alongside the new 570S Sprint – is set to take on a full development program in the British GT championship with the privateer Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse team ahead of possible international GT series plans set to be revealed in the coming weeks.
At the moment, the new GT4 has not hit the final phase of development cycle just yet, although ardent McLaren fans will not be surprised to hear that at the base lies the same carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis found on its road-going alter-ego (and indeed every road car since the MP4-12C arrived in 2009). This does mark the first time though that such an architecture has appeared in the GT4 category.
The use of carbon fibre continues across the re-profiled bodywork, the most eye-catching elements of which include a GT4-spec rear wing, a larger front splitter, a revised bonnet with GT3-esque radiator exit ducts, and a revised floor. Underneath lies a wider track both front and rear to accommodate (deep breath) larger, 18in centre-locking lightweight magnesium alloys than the examples found on the road-going 570S. Said alloys are connected to track-focused suspension and dampers, and clad with Pirelli racing slicks, a nod McLaren’s ‘pure focus on laptimes’ with its new track weapon.
McLaren‘s 3.8-litre twin-turbo M838TE V8 meanwhile continues its life cycle in the GT4, and is again mated with Woking’s established seven-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. Neither power nor torque though have been confirmed for the new GT4, and we can only speculate regarding performance times. Still, it’s not like we’ll have to wait long to see the new GT4 in action, it’s inaugural run due to take place at the opening British GT championship round at Brand’s Hatch alongside a Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse-run 650S GT3 on 16-17 April. Further details of the new 570S Sprint are also due to drop in the next few weeks.
Oh, and if you were curious, the whole package retails for $227,900, including FIA-spec roll cage and fire extinguisher. That’s just a shade over $10K more than the ‘luxury’ 570GT that made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
Technical specifications (well, some of them) available on page 2
