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McLaren P1 GTR Design Concept previews super exotic track stormer

McLaren says the P1 GTR has one goal: "to be the best driver's car in the world on track." And with no intentions of making the thing road-legal, McLaren was able to freely put together this design concept, showing a car that, to our eyes, looks absolutely capable of delivering the best in track-focused dynamics. Under the hood, the P1's 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 has been enhanced to deliver 986 horsepower, an increase of 83 hp versus the engine's already ludicrous tune in the standard car. McLaren paid extra close attention to improving aerodynamics, with the sole intent of allowing the GTR to offer "more extreme performance," according to the company's press release. The front track is wider, with a larger, GT-style splitter. Cooling for the engine and brakes has been improved. The ride height has been lowered. The car's mirrors are now repositioned on the A-pillar to reduce drag and allow for better visibility. What's more, the racer rides on a unique set of 19-inch lightweight motorsport alloy wheels, and tire changes are easier managed thanks to an onboard air jacking system derived from the setup used on the 650S GT3 racecar. Active aerodynamics are found out back, too, with a fixed-height wing that uses a hydraulically operated drag reduction system, working in tandem with the active aero flaps placed ahead of the front wheels. Alongside the P1 GTR launch, McLaren offered up a few details about its new driver program, an exclusive ownership experience that includes specialized driver training, access to a racing simulator and more, all of which is "designed to prepare each driver mentally and physically to fully exploit the abilities of the McLaren P1 GTR." It sounds pretty intense, with each experience being individually tailored for each specific driver. Read more details about the driver program, as well as the P1 GTR in the press release below, and have a look at the gallery above to see live photos of the car direct from its debut here in Monterey.

F1 to offer track rides with Alonso, Verstappen, Hakkinen

It's not often that a Formula 1 fan gets to experience what an F1 track feels like from the point of view of a racing driver. An in-car camera just goes so far, and tracks are not always open for the public, or even for track days. Now, a special Hot Laps program announced by Formula 1 and Pirelli means some lucky participants are able to take part in ridealongs on the same F1 tracks where all the racing action happens. The first two manufacturers that have announced their participation are Aston Martin and McLaren, and as a result the Vantage and 720S will be used in the program. More car manufacturers have reportedly signed up, and they will be named in the near future. The first Hot Laps will be driven at the 2018 Bahrain GP. The best is still to come. The professional racing drivers that have enlisted for the Hot Laps program are Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen for Aston Martin, and the McLarens will be driven by Mika Hakkinen, Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne. Imagine being taken for a ride by such wheelmen! Just doing a grocery run with Alonso behind the wheel would probably be exciting enough, let alone getting a track experience. Of course, the one thing that hasn't yet been mentioned is the price. We can't imagine a lap can be very modestly priced in this case, but it will sure be a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Unless you can afford two laps, that is. Related Video: Motorsports Aston Martin McLaren Luxury Performance Pirelli Max Verstappen lando norris

McLaren GT spied in detail running around the streets of Spain

The McLaren GT is on its way, and today we get a more detailed look at the British supercar. McLaren previously released a few photos of the car in camouflage, but these are much more revealing with close-up shots included. We'd like to turn your attention to the middle and rear of the car, where this McLaren stands to differentiate itself most with the rest of the lineup. There's a bit of a stretching effect from the long, gently tapering engine cover and rear deck. It's unclear how much of that area will be usable storage space, but there's bound to be more than the 570 GT allows for now. McLaren has said it's aiming for a full set of golf clubs or two pairs of 6-foot long skis with boots. So for all you McLaren owners upset about not being able to drive your supercar to the golf course or into snowy mountain passes, rest assured that McLaren is remedying this problem. Even though McLaren is calling this a grand tourer, the general supercar shape and supercar characteristics appear ever-present. It's still extremely low to the ground, positions the engine right behind the driver's ears and it'll probably have even more power than the current 570 series of cars. Autocar recently chatted with McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt about the car, and he said it will have a more dedicated focus on the characteristics you want in a GT. That means high levels of comfort from the suspension and also increased cabin luxury. He went on to say that there will be more McLarens like this to come. The DRL, headlight and taillight signatures are clear for us all to stare at now, too. McLaren hasn't showed much restraint when it comes to the air intakes behind the doors, as they're as large as ever. Camouflage on supercars like this McLaren never looks all that bad — we wouldn't be surprised to see somebody do a wrap like this for a rally, as those are generally pretty out-there designs. McLaren is expected to launch the car relatively soon, presumably as a 2020 model year vehicle. It's looking ready to go in these spy photos, so don't expect to wait terribly long to see the new McLaren GT.