Τρεις εβδομάδες μετά την παρουσίαση της 570GT, η βρετανική εταιρία προσθέτει δύο νέα μοντέλα στην οικογένεια της Sports Series, τα αγωνιστικά 570S GT4 και 570S Sprint. Τα αυτοκίνητα έχουν εξελιχθεί και προετοιμαστεί σε συνεργασία με το αγωνιστικό τμήμα McLaren GT, το επίσημο αγωνιστικό παρακλάδι για τα αυτοκίνητα δρόμου.
Μέχρι τώρα, η McLaren έχει δώσει κάποιες πληροφορίες για το πρώτο αυτοκίνητο, με την αγωνιστική 570S GT4 να διαθέτει νέο σώμα και αναβαθμισμένο κινητήρα V8 3,8-λίτρων που συνδυάζεται με ένα 6-τάχυτο σειριακό κιβώτιο ταχυτήτων. Ο κινητήρας πληροί τους κανονισμούς του GT4 πρωταθλήματος της FIA, με το κόστος του να υπολογίζεται στα £159.900 (€206.000). Το αυτοκίνητο θα συμμετάσχει στο πρωτάθλημα του 2017, αλλά θα τρέξει μερικούς αγώνες και την φετινή σεζόν ως μέρος του προγράμματος εξέλιξης. Πιο συγκεκριμένα θα τρέξει στο βρετανικό πρωτάθλημα τουρισμού με την ομάδα της Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse, με τον πρώτο από τους 9 αγώνες να πραγματοποιείται στη πίστα του Brands Hatch στις 16 Απριλίου.
Για το δεύτερο δεν υπάρχουν πληροφορίες, αλλά ακολουθεί την ίδια τακτική με την 650S Sprint, που είδαμε πριν ενάμιση χρόνο, με την βρετανική εταιρία να το περιγράφει το αυτοκίνητο ως ένα “γυμνό αγωνιστικό”. Βασίζεται στην 570S και διαθέτει τα απαραίτητα αεροδυναμικά στοιχεία, όπως το αεριζόμενο καπό, μεγάλη πίσω αεροτομή, ενώ πατάει σε νέα ανάρτηση ρυθμισμένη για πίστα, δυνατότερα φρένα και 19άρες αγωνιστικές ζάντες με κεντρικό μπουλόνι.
Στις σχετικές ειδήσεις, η McLaren Automotive ανακοίνωσε ότι προσέλαβε τον πρώην CEO της Caterham, Ansar Ali, για τη θέση του αγωνιστικού διευθυντή για τα αυτοκίνητα δρόμου, με το νεοσυσταθέν αυτό ρόλο να υπογραμμίζει το αυξανόμενο ενδιαφέρον για την αγωνιστική δραστηριότητα της εταιρίας.
Ο Ali δήλωσε χαρακτηριστικά:
Είμαι εξαιρετικά υπερήφανος και είναι τιμή μου να ανήκω στη McLaren Automotive σε μια τέτοια κρίσιμη στιγμή για την μάρκα. Η ευκαιρία να παίξουμε σημαντικό ρόλο στη διαμόρφωση της μελλοντικής στρατηγικής του μηχανοκίνητου αθλητισμού είναι εξαιρετικά συναρπαστική, και τα μοντέλα 570S GT4 και 570S Sprint είναι ένα σημαντικό πρώτο βήμα.
[learn_more caption=”Δελτίο Τύπου”]
THE McLAREN SPORTS SERIES EXPANDS TRACK APPEAL WITH 570S GT4 AND 570S SPRINT
- Track-only 570S GT4 and 570S Sprint models to be added to the McLaren Sports Series
- Ansar Ali joins McLaren Automotive as Motorsport Director
- 570S GT4 to enter a season-long competitive development program in British championship with Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse
Woking, UK (March 15, 2016) – McLaren Automotive has confirmed two new track-only models of the recently-launched Sports Series with the introduction of the 570S GT4 and the 570S Sprint, developed in conjunction with the motorsport division of the Woking brand, McLaren GT and GT racing specialists, CRS GT. Limited Unveiled ahead of its final development phase, the GT4-specification model will take on an intensive season-long development program in the British GT championship. McLaren GT and CRS GT Limited will work with recently confirmed customer team Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse throughout the season, with the 570S GT4 contesting the full nine round calendar. The program will be the truest and most rigorous testing schedule in live race environments. Echoing the previous models to wear the Sprint badge, the 570S Sprint will be unrestricted by racing regulations and dedicated for trackdays, but upgradable to a full GT4 specification. Further details of this model will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
In addition to the confirmation of the latest Sports Series models is the appointment of Ansar Ali to the role of Motorsport Director for McLaren Automotive. The newly-created role highlights the key focus on motorsport for the brand, and Ali will be responsible for the on-going strategy and management of motorsport activities moving forward.
Commenting on the latest additions to the Sports Series, Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive explained, “As with the road-going models to wear a McLaren badge, the 570S GT4 and 570S Sprint models are about being an engaging and exciting drive. The launch of the Sports Series has broadened the McLaren brand to a new audience, introducing technologies to the sports car market and to a new group of customers. The introduction of the 570S GT4 is doing the same in the motorsport world, and will bring the opportunity to own and race a McLaren – previously limited to a very small number of people – to a much wider group. The decision to run the car in a live race environment has been taken to ensure the data retrieved is as accurate and optimized as possible, and it will ensure that the cars eventually delivered to customers have been tested to the extremities of how they will be raced. This program will also provide key information and form the testbed for the 570S Sprint model which, as with the previous Sprint models, will not be subject to the rules and regulations of any specific race series.” He added, “I am extremely pleased to welcome Ansar to McLaren Automotive in such a key role. Motorsport is part of the lifeblood of the McLaren brand, and this role will be key to our long-term plans as we continue to expand the product range and customer-appeal around the world.”
Ansar Ali, Motorsport Director, McLaren Automotive added, “I am extremely proud and honored to be joining McLaren Automotive at such a pivotal time for the brand. Activities on track have played such a significant part in the history of making the brand as globally recognized as it is today. 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.”
Commenting on the program, Andrew Kirkaldy, Managing Director, CRS GT Limited added, “The 570S GT4 marks a key development of McLaren as a player in the motorsport world, opening the opportunity to race up to a much broader skill level of driver. With the 650S GT3, which raced competitively for the first time last year, there was a focus on drivability and the performance envelope was easier to access and exploit. The results speak for themselves, and the 570S GT4 model takes this to the next level and provides drivers the confidence and feedback to push and exploit the boundaries of what the car can do.”
THE McLAREN 570S GT4
The track-only 570S GT4 shares the carbon fiber MonoCell II chassis architecture with the other models in the Sports Series. This marks the first time the technology has been made available in the GT4 category, and the race-derived material is of clear benefit with inherent strength and light weight. Driver protection is further enhanced with the addition of an FIA-approved rollcage and fire extinguisher system. Carbon fiber and aluminum are used for the reprofiled bodywork, which is formed over wider track front and rear to accommodate center-locking lightweight cast magnesium alloy wheels shod with slick Pirelli racing tires. Two-way adjustable motorsport dampers with coil-over springs are fitted front and rear, and an on-board air jacking system is fitted as standard.
With a pure focus on laptimes, the 570S GT4 features a unique aerodynamic package which includes a GT4-specification high level rear wing, mounted on aluminum pylons, a larger front splitter and reprofiled floor assembly. An additional front center high temperature radiator sits below a GT3-inspired bonnet with radiator exit ducts. These upgrades have been designed to optimize the aerodynamic performance and cooling of the 570S GT4 to ensure it is able to perform in the harshest race conditions globally.
The McLaren designed and developed 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 M838TE engine is carried over from the road-going Sports Series model. The seven-speed seamless shift gearbox is also familiar to the other models in the range, transferring power to the track via the rear wheels.
Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse will run one example of the 570S GT4 alongside the confirmed entry of the 650S GT3 with Factory Driver Rob Bell alongside Alaisdair McCaig. Driver details for the season will be announced shortly.
The 570S GT4 will make its public development debut at the opening round of the British GT Championship at Brands Hatch, UK over the weekend April 16-17. Going forward, it will be eligible for all GT4 homologated championships globally from the 2017 season, and is priced from £159,900 (ex works).
Further details for the 570S Sprint, including pricing, will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
McLAREN 570S GT4 TECHNICAL STATISTICS
ENGINE & POWERTRAIN
Engine capacity / type 3.8-liter (3,799cc) / twin turbo V8 M838TE
Transmission 7 Speed SSG
CHASSIS & BODY
Chassis McLaren carbon fiber Monocell II chassis; aluminum front & rear frames and crash structures
Body Aluminum and carbon fiber panels
Aerodynamics Unique front splitter and floor assembly; GT4-specification adjustable rear wing
Cooling Additional front center high temp radiator
Suspension Penske two-way adjustable motorsport dampers with coil-over springs, front & rear
Axle SKF center lock integrated hub / wheel bearing unit, handed side to side, front & rear
Wheels OZ cast magnesium 18×9-inch front / 18×11-inch rear
Tires Pirelli racing slicks 245/645-18 front / 305/680-18 rear
DIMENSIONS
Length 4,606mm
Width 2,095mm
Height 1,179mm
Wheelbase 2,674mm
Track, f/r 1,644mm / 1,593mm
Fuel capacity (29.1 gallons) 110 litres
[/learn_more]