The brand-new McLaren 650S was introduced at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show as a replacement for the MP4-12C. The sports car->ke506 debuted in Coupe and Roadster body styles with 640 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque on tap. Powered by the same twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-8 seen across the entire McLaren lineup, the 650S comes to the market as a competitor for the Ferrari 458 and the Lamborghini Huracan. Coming into 2015, the British sports car is also getting a track suit with a 650S GT3 label on it.

Developed as a successor to the highly acclaimed 12C GT3, the 650S will replace its forerunner in the Blancplain Endurance Series starting next year. Additionally, the new race car will get to showcase its skills in various GT races around the world hoping to match the success of its predecessor. Although it is essentially an updated 12C GT3, the 650S GT3 carries an array of newly-developed racing parts, which are supposed to make it faster and more agile on the track. Only time will tell if the 650S is worthy of the GT3 moniker, but, until then, let's have a look at the technology behind it.

Updated 07/27/2015: The McLaren 650S GT3 finished honorably in its most demanding test to date this weekend: two entered entered the Total 24 Hours of Spa and both claimed top 10 finishes. McLaren dropped a very nice picture gallery from the race, so enjoy!

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 McLaren 650S GT3.

2015 McLaren 650S GT3

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 McLaren 650S GT3
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 493
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Just as the road-legal McLaren 650S is a successor to the MP4-12C, which was discontinued earlier this year, the 650S GT3 is an evolution of the 12C GT3. Built with motorsport in mind, the 650S GT3 is a more radical version of the standard 650S, with tons of race-specific gear added inside and out.

Up front, the GT3 is distinguished by a large carbon-fiber splitter and enhanced air intakes on each side of the nose. The revised front hood provides additional cooling to the car's internals, while the wider front fenders further enhance the GT3 menacing stance. Moving toward the rear, reshaped side air intakes are in place to send even more air into the engine, while the redesigned side sills make sure the racer remains planted at high speeds.

Around back, a huge, fixed carbon-fiber wing provides the necessary downforce and optimum airflow over and around the GT3. The 650S' traditional rear bumper has been replaced by a track-spec diffuser that hangs closer to the ground. The aerodynamic piece is quite aggressive by design and represents a major improvement compared to the 12C GT3.

Naturally, the 650S GT3's body is made entirely of carbon-fiber, with panel design and fit optimized to minimize pit lane repair times. The body is lighter than ever before and sits on a two-inch-wider track.

Interior

Driver safety is one of the key areas McLaren focused while developing the 650S GT3. Protection offered by the revised carbon-fiber MonoCell chassis is enhanced with the addition of a brand-new, FIA-approved roll cage that's lighter than that of the 12C GT3. The new roll cage provides increased leg and headroom, which will translate into a greater degree of driver comfort during those long endurance events.

Speaking of comfort, drivers will also benefit from an all-new race seat developed by the company's GT division. Fitted with a six-point race harness as standard, the seat offers increased levels of support by means of bespoke molded inserts. The seat is built to FIA standards and mounted to the chassis.

Assisting the drivers throughout the races is a digital dash displaying all sorts of vital parameters, including speed and fuel consumption. The dash sits behind the vehicle's unique steering wheel, which borrows the design seen in McLaren's Formula 1 car. An all-new, adjustable, motorsport pedal box and a membrane-type switch panel round off the track-ready cockpit.

Drivetrain

The 650S GT3 is motivated by McLaren's familiar twin-turbo, 3.8-liter, V-8 engine. The unit carries the same configuration as in the 12C GT3, meaning it benefits from the same 493-horsepower rating controlled by FIA regulations. However, the 650S features an all-new, six-speed sequential transmission with improved shifting and an oil cooler incorporated into the large side intakes. Engine cooling is improved, thanks to the larger intakes cut into the front bumper. All told, expect the 650S GT3 to be slightly faster that the already successful 12C GT3.

2015 McLaren 650S GT3: Drivetrain Specification

Engine

Race prepared 3.8L V8 twin turbo McLaren M838T

Managements

McLaren Electronics ECU incorporating turbo boost and transmission shift control

Transmission

Six-speed sequential motorsport transmission pneumatically actuated via steering wheel mounted paddles

Output

493 HP


Suspension

Helping the 650S GT3 on the race track is an all-new, race-tuned suspension system, a two-inch-wider track, and new-generation, larger racing tires. Aided by the revised aerodynamic package, the combo provides increased levels of grip and steering feel on turn-in. The new tires wrap around brand-new, forged-aluminum wheels measuring 18 inches at all corners. Stopping power is provided by a revised braking system consisting of ventilated discs and monoblock calipers. Up front, the 380-by-35-mm (15-by-1.4-inch) discs mate to six-piston calipers, while the rear, 355-by-32-mm (14-by-1.3-inch) discs are paired to four-piston calipers.

Prices

Only 15 examples of the 650S GT3 will be built and sold for £330,000 each before taxes, which means around $562,000 as of 06/27/2014. Deliveries will commence in late 2014, just in time for customers to start testing before the 2015 motorsport season commences.

Additionally, privateers that already own the 12C GT3 will be able to opt for an upgrade package that basically transforms this year's race car into a 650S GT3. About 15 such packages will be sold, but McLaren has yet to announce pricing information.

Competition

Audi R8 LMS Ultra

The Audi R8 LMS Ultra is McLaren's main rival for the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series. The German race car is based on the production, road-legal Audi R8 and features a bevy of racing upgrades to make it viable for endurance events. Setting it apart from the road-going R8 is a revised hood, a front bumper spoiler, new side sills, a larger rear wing and a race-specific rear diffuser.

A track-ready suspension system and more efficient brakes are also part of the package. Behind the seats lies Audi's familiar 5.2-liter, V-10 engine, with certain updates added to increase its potential. Output sits at 562 horsepower, 12 ponies more than the road-legal R8 V-10 Plus. Power is routed to the rear wheels by a six-speed sequential gearbox operated by paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

Bentley Continental GT3

Based on the production Bentley Continental GT, the GT3 is a fresh entry into the Blancpain Endurance Series. Introduced for the 2014 season, the British machine laps the tracks by means of 4.0-liter, V-8 engine that generates 600 twin-turbocharged horses. Sending power to the ground is a six-speed sequential transaxle gearbox using a racing clutch and a limited-slip differential.

Stripped of all the luxury features found in the regular Continental GT and fitted with several carbon-fiber parts inside and out, the GT3 tips the scale at only 2,866 pounds.

Conclusion

The 650S GT3 comes to replace a very successful 12C GT3. As of June 2014, the latter has three championship titles and 51 race wins to its name, making it the winningest McLaren of the modern era. Improving on such success won't be an easy task, but the 650S comes with many chassis and aerodynamic improvements that are bound to make it faster and more agile. We know race cars are developed to be quick rather than beautiful, but the 650S GT3 is one of those track rockets that manages to be both.

Updated History

Updated 10/06/2014: McLaren announced that its new 650S GT3 is about to face toughest test yet with 12 hour desert endurance test set to take place the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, 12-13 December. After this final race, the 650S GT3 will join customer teams from next season.