MartyB

For those who have been following the McLaren 12Chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id7YR...layer_embedded

savyboy

Sweet. Now let's see what the street version of the Macca GT3 looks like and how much it costs. May make our GT3's seem like a bargain...

911SLOW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=375-d3t0guw


From top gear's site:


The MP4-12C, McLaren's first GT3 car in 16 years, has landed. It looks... well, just look at it. Earlier this month, Top Gear was granted an exclusive audience with 2011's most stunning racer, a car with a fat weight of expectation pressing down on its wide arches. The MP4-12C's racing predecessor, the F1 GTR, won Le Mans outright in 1995. Talk about pressure...

So let's get this out the way straight off: the MP4-12C GT3 won't emulate its dad by winning Le Mans. Not outright, not even a class victory. The McLaren isn't eligible to run in the world's biggest 24-hour event: instead, it's been built to compete in the FIA GT3 class, and will make its competitive debut at the Spa 24 Hours in late July.

GT3 cars are, in essence, road-going supercars turned up to 11 and beyond. The MP4-12C racer retains the road car's 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 (making it the only turbo to run in the GT3 class), carbon tub and delicious scissor doors, but gets a 10mm wider track, roll cage and slick tyres. Oh, and all that fantastic aero slattery...


The reason the MP4-12C looks far more joined up, more cohesive than the average GT3 car - and, indeed, how it has reached the track so quickly after the road car's debut - is because it was developed in-house by McLaren alongside the road car project from an early stage. The GT3 car was finessed in McLaren F1's insanely powerful simulator, the £50m supercomputer used by Lewis and Jenson to fine-tune their F1 cars. A useful secret weapon.

But will it be quick? Well, GT3 racers operate under a devilishly complicated handicap system, so a car's competitiveness depends on more than its raw pace, but the McLaren team sound mighty confident.

"This car will be winning from the very first race," asserts Colin Goodwin, McLaren Automotive's chief test driver, and head of the development project for the road car. "I've driven - and won - in GT cars that were less driveable than this on the first day of testing..."

We'll find out at Spa in late July. And don't forget that the F1 GTR racer spawned a road car variant, the gorgeous F1 LM. Imagine a road-going MP4-12C GT3: big wing, less weight, more noise. Just a thought, McLaren. Just a thought...


Just a thought: bring the 991 V8 or be gone for ever..

masmole

don't you mean flat-8?

Riz

Which cars will be its rival on the track?

Larry Cable

wonder if they will do a street version ... regardless its unlikely to be in the same price range as a 911 Gt3 or RS ...

micahbones

Quite a good lot:
911 GT3 R
Audi R8 LMS
Ferrari 430 & 458 GT3
Corvette Z06.R
BMW Z4 GT3
Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
Aston DBRS9
Lambo Gallardo GT3

The Macca MP4-12C GT3 also runs a limited slip diff with roll bars, unlike the road going version.

Larry Cable

I'll say it again; I think there is a huge questionmark over the 991 GT models!

If the mezger block's days are over after the 4.0 RS then we have to wonder what will power the 991 GT3, RS, Cup and RSR???

Granted, the 9A1 is supposed to be a modular engine design, allowing for a flat 8 ... and the 991 is now a little longer ... perhaps to accomodate ...?

The 9A1 in 6 cyl format currently can only boast 408bhp in a 3.8L, so if the 991 GT cars are to remain a flat 6, that block now needs to find some 30-50+ bhp to exceed the current 997 variants bhp.

Will Porsche motorsport continue to use the mezger block for its 991 variant Cup and RSR products? - that may be an indicator of what the 991 GT cars
are powered by ...

and here is a thought ... since Ruf managed to create a l/w V8 and now that Porsche is responsible for VM Group "sports cars" could we see a l/w V8 block
in a 991 GT car ... or is the 911 defined by a flat 6?

Will they simply breathe on the mezger block again for the 991 cars ... or

worst case...

is the GT marque 'done', will they replace it with an (Audi) R8 Porsche badged variant???

answers on a postcard ...

FFaust

Would love to be a fly on the wall in the Porsche boardroom.

tcsracing1

Looks like it could be a winner. Nice package and engineering.

proof will be on the track. Lets see how it holds up @ Spa 24 hour....

if goes well, then the street car will be alright in my books.

I would like to see the Porsche 918 street and competion car come to life as a my alternative to this car.

micahbones

onboard footage, even with the turbos it definitely sounds the part:

MP4-12C GT3 onboard

TRAKCAR

I'd love me a 911 V8.
Ideal combo as long off course the car is lighter.

Larry Cable

If RUF can do it, so can Porsche esp as now it has the Audi V8 to play with ... although the question is, does 911 = flat six?

Personally I think it highly unlikely that a V8 will appear in a 911 ... maybe a flat 8 ...

aussie jimmy

is that a playstation dsp steering wheel in that macca? sounds like a vacuum cleaner.