What's the news?
McLaren has announced two new track-dedicated models of its Sports Series of road cars, with both the newcomers based on the 570S; they're called the GT4 and the Sprint.
Developed with McLaren's motorsport division, McLaren GT, and racing outfit CRS GT Limited, the 570S GT4 will be entered into the British GT championship, during all nine rounds of which it will be going through an 'intensive season-long development programme'.
The 570S Sprint is dedicated to private track days alone and is therefore unhampered by racing regulations, although buyers of the Sprint can have their cars upgraded to full GT4 specification if they fancy the full-blooded glory of competition. The Sprint's specification will be revealed in full in the coming weeks, so let's return to the 570S GT4 for now.
Powered by the familiar 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and driving through a seven-speed gearbox, the GT4 has a MonoCell II carbon-fibre chassis, with carbon and aluminium used extensively in the reprofiled bodywork. The GT4 has wider tracks front and rear than the road car, in order to accommodate centre-locking cast magnesium alloy wheels, while two-way adjustable motorsport dampers with coilover springs are fitted. To comply with regs, an air jacking system, FIA-approved rollcage and fire extinguisher system are all on board.
Furthermore, the 570S GT4 has a GT4-specification high-level rear wing on aluminium pylons, a huge front splitter and a resculpted floor. There's a front-centre high-temperature radiator mounted underneath a bonnet inspired by GT3, sporting a pair of radiator exit ducts, and the whole car is said to be 'optimised for both aerodynamics and cooling'. If you're interested in buying one for any GT4 homologated championships from 2017 onwards, a 570S GT4 will cost you £159,900 (about €204,000), ex works.
Anything else?
McLaren Automotive has appointed Ansar Ali, former CEO of Caterham and founder of Zenos, as its new motorsport director, just in time to oversee the GT4 and Sprint launches. He said: "I am extremely proud and honoured to be joining McLaren Automotive at such a pivotal time. Activities on track have played such a significant part in the history of making McLaren globally recognised. The opportunity to play a major part in shaping its future motorsport strategy is extremely exciting, and the 570S GT4 and 570S Sprint models are an important initial step."