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McLaren withdraws from Australian Grand Prix after positive test for coronavirus

Renault driver Esteban Occon wears a face mask out of coronavirus concerns as he greets fans in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. / Reuters    The McLaren Racing team has withdrawn from this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix after a team member tested positive for coronavirus, the team said on Friday. The positive test at McLaren follows four crew members of fellow Formula One team Haas being quarantined due to the outbreak. "The team member was tested and self-isolated as soon as they started to show symptoms and will now be treated by local healthcare authorities," McLaren said in a statement. "The team has prepared for this eventuality and has ongoing support in place for its employee who will now enter a period of quarantine. The team is cooperating with the relevant local authorities to assist their investigations and analysis." Both Haas and McLaren are Britain-based teams. Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton said it was "shocking" that the Australian Grand Prix could go ahead amid the threat of the coronavirus and suggested organizers had put financial concerns ahead of people's health. Thousands of fans poured into Albert Park on Thursday as race-week kicked off with practice and qualifying for lower-profile motor sport circuits. The Chinese Grand Prix, which was scheduled for April, has been postponed while the Bahrain GP, the second stop in the F1 calendar, has banned fans from attending the March 22 race.

McLaren uses 720S prototype to test three-seat layout of BP23

McLaren is continuing development of the BP23 hypercar and today released new images highlighting its work on the three-seat interior. The company is testing the layout on a mule based on the 720S, as McLaren refines the interior configuration. McLaren says it is also considering digital mirror technology for the cabin. As expected, the company confirmed the BP23 will be the fastest McLaren ever. A spokesperson wouldn't provide specifics but said the claim will not be based on lap times. Information about the BP23 has been filtering out this year. BP23 is a codename, with 2 meaning it's McLaren Special Operations' second "bespoke project" and 3 meaning that it will seat three. The hypercar will have a hybrid powertrain, and it is the successor to the legendary F1. McLaren will build 106 BP23s (or whatever its final name ends up being), though it has received demand for three times that many. That's also the number of F1s that were built from 1992 to 1998. We expect BP23 production to start in 2019, and the car will cost around $2.5 million. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery McLaren BP23 Image Credit: McLaren Green McLaren Coupe Future Vehicles Hybrid Luxury Performance mclaren 720s mclaren bp23

McLaren P1 LM is the world's most extreme, exclusive supercar

As fast as it is, and as deep as its manufacturer's roots may run in motor racing, the McLaren P1 was designed from the get-go as a road-going supercar. The subsequent P1 GTR adapted it for use exclusively on the track, but now Lanzante has put it back on the road in the form of the new P1 LM. For those unfamiliar, Lanzante is the outfit that campaigned the original McLaren F1 GTR to such great success at Le Mans back in 1995. Following the 28 examples of the F1 GTR, McLaren built another six examples of the F1 LM, kept one and sold the other five – each based on the GTR's specs but modified for road use. Now Lanzante has unearthed that playbook again with the release of the new McLaren P1 LM. Among the steps Lanzante took in transforming the P1 GTR to road spec involved retuning the hybrid powertrain to keep the output at 986 horsepower while running on 99-octane pump gas and at higher temperatures. The automaker saved a good 130 pounds compared to the GTR by ditching the onboard air-jacking system, fitting polycarbonate windows, refabricating the exhaust and cat pipes out of lightweight Inconel and the bolts out of titanium. It even insulated the engine bay in gold leaf – just like the original F1. Lanzante also fitted an exposed carbon-fiber roof, new rolling stock and steering wheel (replete with switchgear like a modern grand prix racer's). It trimmed the interior in Alcantara, and mounted a bigger front splitter and rear wing to increase downforce by 40 percent. The result ought to make for one frighteningly extreme ride, likely to be capable of embarrassing just about anything else on the road or track. We'll try not to be too tempted, though, as Lanzante – mirroring the original – will only make six examples and sell five: one in dark gray (like the prototype pictured) and another four in orange. Given the extensive modifications and the $2 million or so McLaren charged for the P1 GTR in the first place, we don't even want to know how much it would cost to put one in our driveway. We'll be watching, though, to see it run up the hill at Goodwood tomorrow at the hands of McLaren factory driver (and former Indy 500 winner) Kenny Brack, who'll also set up each of the customer examples at the Nurburgring. Related Video: THE McLAREN P1 LM Background Lanzante Ltd. first became globally synonymous with the McLaren name when it ran the semi-works McLaren F1 GTR that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995.