McLaren’s hybrid supercar is going racing… without the hybrid bits.
The Artura GT4 will make its in-person debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and features power from a non-hybrid version of the turbocharged V6 engine from the road car.
McLaren says the Artura GT4 is 100kg lighter than its predecessor, the 570S GT4, and says the new V6 engine offers better throttle response and fuel economy than the twin-turbo V8 that featured in the latter.
As for why the Artura GT4 isn’t a hybrid? According to McLaren, the FIA GT4 rules don’t allow it.
The space previously occupied by the battery now houses a 110L fuel cell and the ancillaries required for racing. Losing the e-motor and battery also slashes 130kg from the road car’s weight, which is beneficial on track.
Power is put to the track through a seven-speed transmission instead of the eight-speeder used in the road car. Where the road car uses its electric motor for reverse, GT4 regulations necessitate a physical reverse gear.
A Bosch ECU is on hand to allow the FIA to fiddle with the engine’s outputs based on the Balance of Performance for a particular race weekend.
As you’d expect, the GT4 features a race-ready aerodynamics package headlined by a new rear wing. McLaren says it’s mounted directly to the chassis, which allows the rear bodywork to be dismantled without forcing teams to also disassemble the wing.
Inside, the Artura GT4 has a stripped-out cabin with all the safety kit required by GT4 regulations. The driver sits in a fixed bucket seat, and is faced with a steering wheel lifted from the 720S GT3.
McLaren says the new car’s carbon tub makes it easier to execute quick driver changes at endurance events.
The GT4 is available for customer racing teams to purchase. It’ll go head-to-head with the BMW M4 GT4, Toyota GR Supra GT4, Mercedes-AMG GT4, and Audi R8 LMS GT4.
These cars are slower than GT3 racers, with designs and aerodynamics more closely linked with the road cars which form their base. They’re also meant to be cheaper to run than full-fat GT3 racers.
