McLaren has revealed a special edition P1 GTR which pays homage to Ayrton Senna, 30 years on from his first Formula One world championship title.
Designed by McLaren Special Operations, the bespoke division of McLaren Automotive, the hypercar features the famous red and white colours associated with Senna’s stint with the Formula One team. Senna won his first world title in 1988 with the MP4/4 McLaren, widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 cars ever built, and added two more with the team in 1990 and 1991.
It also features Senna’s logo, the Brazilian flag and the bar code associated with the Marlboro sponsorship the car carried at that time. The number ’12’ Senna’s car carried in 1988 is also displayed on the front.
McLaren says the work that has gone in to the special edition has resulted “in a car worthy of Senna himself”.
The car was commissioned by a McLaren collector and completed over a period of three years for an undisclosed fee. It has been christened ‘Beco’ by the owner, after the nickname Senna was given by his parents. MSO has also commissioned a bespoke crash helmet for the owner which will complement the livery of the car.
Aerodynamic modifications, including a redesigned Gurney flap at the back of the car, will increase the downforce from a peak of 600kg in race mode to roughly 800kg.
McLaren launched a hypercar called the McLaren Senna earlier this year, marking the same anniversary as this special edition P1 GTR.