McLaren’s hybrid supercar is racing… without the hybrid bits.
The Artura GT4 will make its live debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and will draw power from a non-hybrid version of the road car’s turbocharged V6.
McLaren says the Artura GT4 is 100kg lighter than its predecessor, the 570S GT4, and says the new V6 offers better throttle response and more fuel economy than the twin-turbo V8 found in later version.
As for why the Artura GT4 isn’t a hybrid? According to McLaren, the FIA GT4 rules don’t allow that.
The space formerly occupied by batteries now houses a 110L fuel cell and the necessary equipment for the race. Losing the e-motor and battery also reduces the weight of the car by 130kg on the road, which is beneficial on the go.
Power is sent to the track via a seven-speed transmission instead of the eight-speed transmission used on road cars. When cars on the road use an electric motor to reverse, GT4 regulations mandate a physical reverse gear.
A Bosch ECU is available to allow the FIA to control engine outputs based on Performance Balance for a specific race weekend.
As you’d expect, the GT4 has a race-ready aerodynamic package with a new rear spoiler at the top. McLaren says it is mounted directly to the chassis, allowing for the dismantling of the rear fuselage without forcing teams to also disassemble the wings.
Inside, the Artura GT4 has a stripped-down cabin with all the GT4-specific safety suites. The driver sits in a fixed bucket seat and faces a handlebar raised from the 720S GT3.
McLaren says the car’s new carbon-tube system makes it easier to make quick driver changes at endurance events.
GT4 is available for purchase by customer racing teams. It will confront BMW M4 GT4Toyota GR Supra GT4, Mercedes-AMG GT4and Audi R8 LMS GT4.
These cars are slower than GT3 racers, with design and aerodynamics more closely linked to the road cars that form their basis. They are also meant to be cheaper to run than full fat GT3 racers.
