McLaren F1 GTR v P1 GTR v Senna GTR – car pictures of the week
In the latest issue of evo, we gather three McLaren GTR models together for an epic test on track, and a drive on the road – these are our favourite shots
Driving one of McLaren’s most revered, track-bred hypercars is a once in a lifetime experience that only a very lucky (and wealthy) few will get to sample. Driving three of them on the same day on both road and track sounds like pure fantasy, but in issue 331 of evo, we did just that by gathering McLaren’s ultimate GTR models together: F1, P1 and Senna. To read the full feature, pick up a copy of the magazine in-store or online via the evo shop.
As a new dawn of McLaren hypercars approaches with the W1, we wanted to step back to revisit three of its greatest halo models that wear the GTR badge. The first is, of course, the F1, which was famously converted for motorsport use following its launch and took victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1995. That cemented the F1 GTR in the history books, and three decades later, it’s become even more revered with values stretching beyond £20m…
The P1 GTR isn’t steeped in motorsport history, but it is the ultimate expression of one of the most exciting and revered hypercars ever made. Originally designed as a track-only special, the P1 GTR we tested has been converted for road use and packs an upgraded 4-litre engine with 1080bhp. That’s as intense as it sounds from the cockpit:
‘The way the powertrain seems to show such utter disdain for the mass it’s being asked to propel means the sensation inside the car is like horizontal freefall,’ said evo’s Henry Catchpole. ‘This lightness comes over you and you feel like you’ve just been swept off your feet. Quicker than the F1? Of that there is absolutely no doubt. And the rush towards the horizon is even more seamless with the up-change clicks (acoustically very like those of the magnesium paddles on the 992 GT3 RS) the only punctuation.’
Finally, there’s the Senna GTR. The road-going Senna hasn’t garnered the same mythical reputation as its forebears, but it’s the most intricate, aerodynamically advanced GTR of all. It gives fantastic confidence and a pure-bred race car feel, being 207kg lighter than the P1 but still packing an 814bhp V8.
To read our verdict on all three – and find out what they’re like to drive on the road – pick up a copy of evo 331.
