McLaren to unveil 'latest competition car' at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Thu, Jun 19 2014
Goodwood isn't just a place to see high-performance cars run up a driveway, though. Manufacturers often use the the event as a debut location for some of their sauciest road cars and newest racers. This year, that will include McLaren, which has announced that, in addition to demonstration laps from former Formula One World Champion Jenson Button as well as runs in a one-off 650S and P1, an all-new competition vehicle will make its debut.
While we were holding out hope for the debut of the P1 GTR, the more likely case indicated by the teaser sketch, shown above, is that we'll see the successor to the 12C GT3 racer, the 650S GT3.
Like its predecessor, the 650S GT3 will likely take part in the FIA's GT3 and GT1 championships, alongside the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin and BMW.
We'll have all the details on the 650S GT3 when it makes its debut on Friday, June 27. Meanwhile, keep an eye open for Goodwood content, as the festival kicks off on June 26 and runs through June 29. Take a look below for the official press release from McLaren.
McLAREN AT GOODWOOD 2014
The arrival of summer in the UK means it's Festival of Speed time again, and McLaren Automotive is gearing up for what promises to be another great weekend of cars and stars at Goodwood.
As an official partner of this world-famous annual event, McLaren will have a major presence in Lord March's country park over the course of the weekend and will be following the Festivals theme of 'Addicted to Winning'. We have something particularly special in store – for the first time, we will be unveiling a new model at the Festival as McLaren GT uncover their latest competition race car.
Our exhibition stand, which proved such a draw in 2013 as we showcased the then-new McLaren P1™, will once again be a key attraction of the weekend. We will be located to the right of Goodwood House this year, near the TAG Heuer Drivers' Club Walkway, so it's a great place to look out for famous faces. The McLaren 650S will be on display making its Festival of Speed debut having been revealed at the Geneva Motor show in March. The McLaren P1™ will also be present. The example featured will be a pre-production model codenamed 'PP3' which appeared on BBC Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson, who named it his 'Car of the Year' making it a winner in its own right and perhaps the most famous McLaren P1™ in the world. In addition to the cars on the stand, a selection of trophies and awards will be shown, many for the first time in public.
Away from the stand in the Supercar Paddock, a unique example of the 650S developed by McLaren Special Operations will be showcased alongside a second McLaren P1™. These cars will take part in the Supercar Run which, for the first time ever, will be timed up the famous Goodwood Hill. Whether the drivers will go for the time attack or stop along the way for some crowd-pleasing donuts remains to be seen.
Jenson Button, will be back in his 2011 McLaren Mercedes MP4-26, no doubt performing burnouts as he screams up the hill in this pre-turbo V8. The 2009 World Champion will also be stepping back in time to try the McLaren MP4/2, the car Prost and Lauda drove to a nail-biting finish in the 1984 Formula 1 world title (Lauda won by just half a point!). Another star of Formula 1 in attendance will be Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, he'll be back in action in the McLaren M23, the car he drove to score McLaren's very first Formula 1 world title in 1974. McLaren champions Senna and Prost will also be honoured – as the exclusive Festival Drivers' Club is supported by our partner TAG Heuer, the Drivers' Club Walkway will be lined with a collection of TAG era McLaren Formula 1 cars, plus examples of the striking 12C Sprint and 12C GT3 racers.
The arrival of summer in the UK means it's Festival of Speed time again, and McLaren Automotive is gearing up for what promises to be another great weekend of cars and stars at Goodwood.
As an official partner of this world-famous annual event, McLaren will have a major presence in Lord March's country park over the course of the weekend and will be following the Festivals theme of 'Addicted to Winning'. We have something particularly special in store – for the first time, we will be unveiling a new model at the Festival as McLaren GT uncover their latest competition race car.
Our exhibition stand, which proved such a draw in 2013 as we showcased the then-new McLaren P1™, will once again be a key attraction of the weekend. We will be located to the right of Goodwood House this year, near the TAG Heuer Drivers' Club Walkway, so it's a great place to look out for famous faces. The McLaren 650S will be on display making its Festival of Speed debut having been revealed at the Geneva Motor show in March. The McLaren P1™ will also be present. The example featured will be a pre-production model codenamed 'PP3' which appeared on BBC Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson, who named it his 'Car of the Year' making it a winner in its own right and perhaps the most famous McLaren P1™ in the world. In addition to the cars on the stand, a selection of trophies and awards will be shown, many for the first time in public.
Away from the stand in the Supercar Paddock, a unique example of the 650S developed by McLaren Special Operations will be showcased alongside a second McLaren P1™. These cars will take part in the Supercar Run which, for the first time ever, will be timed up the famous Goodwood Hill. Whether the drivers will go for the time attack or stop along the way for some crowd-pleasing donuts remains to be seen.
Jenson Button, will be back in his 2011 McLaren Mercedes MP4-26, no doubt performing burnouts as he screams up the hill in this pre-turbo V8. The 2009 World Champion will also be stepping back in time to try the McLaren MP4/2, the car Prost and Lauda drove to a nail-biting finish in the 1984 Formula 1 world title (Lauda won by just half a point!). Another star of Formula 1 in attendance will be Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi, he'll be back in action in the McLaren M23, the car he drove to score McLaren's very first Formula 1 world title in 1974. McLaren champions Senna and Prost will also be honoured – as the exclusive Festival Drivers' Club is supported by our partner TAG Heuer, the Drivers' Club Walkway will be lined with a collection of TAG era McLaren Formula 1 cars, plus examples of the striking 12C Sprint and 12C GT3 racers.
- News Source: McLaren
- Motorsports
- McLaren
- Coupe
- Racing Vehicles
- Goodwood
- mclaren 650s
- mclaren 650s gt3
By Brandon Turkus
See also: McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray no fan of hybrid supercars, McLaren confirms track-focused P1 GTR, Justin Bell wrings out McLaren F1 GTR at Mid-Ohio.