The McLaren Senna GTR is the track-only variant of the radical Senna supercar. Named after famed F1 driver Ayrton Senna, the supercar also pays tribute to the iconic F1 GTR in race-spec trim. Previewed by the Senna GTR Concept at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the track-bound supercar broke cover in production form only 12 months later.

A no-compromise machine that ditches the limitations of a road-legal car, the Senna GTR is described as a vehicle that's "able to lap circuits faster than any McLaren outside Formula 1." It takes the already light, powerful, and track-focused Senna to new heights with extra power, a lighter curb weight, incredible aerodynamic downforce, and knowledge from McLaren's GT3 racing program. As usual, it's highly exclusive, and the few cars that will leave the production line are already sold out. Let's find out more about it below.

2020 McLaren Senna GTR

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2020 McLaren Senna GTR
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 814
  • Torque: 590
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

2020 McLaren Senna GTR Exterior

- Heavily based on Senna - Bigger splitter - Modified wing - New rear diffuser - More extreme aerodynamics - Carbon-fiber body - 2,205 pounds of downforce!

While the concept car was a slightly more aggressive version of the road-going Senna, the production GTR model boasts notable revisions o the outside. Up front, the new splitter is the first element that catches the eye. Now featuring a raised center section, it feeds more air under the car and toward the rear diffuser. The vents under the headlamps have a slightly different shape now, but McLaren also added new dive planes and vortex generators at the corners. Both ensure stable airflow under the car for enhanced downforce.

Moving onto the sides we can see more aggressive side skirts under the door and larger vents on the rear fenders. The new vents in the front fenders and the additional winglets with "GTR" lettering are further proof that this car is not a regular Senna.

It's here where you'll also notice the race-spec side windows with sliding ticket openings. Not only similar to those of authentic race cars, the windows and the windshield are also made from polycarbonate for weight-saving purposes. The center-lock wheels measure 19 inches and they are an inch bigger than the FIA's GT3-spec standard. This was possible because the Senna GTR will only compete in private events.

Move toward the back, and the Senna GTR starts to look very different compared to both the road-legal Senna and the GTR concept. That's mostly because McLaren built a massive wing for this car. Not only bigger and wider than the Senna's, but it also extends around the rear fenders, just like on LMP1 prototype race cars. The wing was pushed backward, so it now sits outside of the car's footprint. This allows the wing to be coupled with the diffuser, which is smaller than the Senna's, but much more effective. Overall, it seems as if the rear fascia was pushed back into a big aero device that includes both the wing and the diffuser, as well as parts of the rear fenders. It's not what I'd call a good-looking rear end, but it's definitely effective given the enormous amount of downforce it can generate.

The exhaust system is similar to the regular Senna, which is an important change from the concept car. That latter had side-exiting pipes in the side skirts, but McLaren decided to abandon the visual appeal of them in favor of a simpler and much more efficient setup, just like in the road car. The outlets now emerge from the rear deck under the wing, which saves weight and keeps things simple engineering-wise.

Although not visible, the exterior includes a few active aerodynamic devices, including aero blades near the front radiator and an articulated section of the rear wing. McLaren says that the wing can be "stalled" for maximum speed thanks to an automatic drag reduction system. The exposed carbon-fiber elements are finished in transparent gloss as standard while the wheels are available in either Gloss Black, Race Silver, or Matt Dark Graphite. You can also opt for door struts and brake calipers in Azura Blue, McLaren Orange or red at no extra cost.

This aggressive shell wraps around McLaren's Monocage III-R structure, a carbon-fiber cell with integrated roll cage and harness mounting points, as well as aluminum front subframe and engine frame.

2020 McLaren Senna GTR Interior

- Race-oriented design - No luxury features - Bespoke instrument cluster - No infotainment - Race-spec steering wheel - FIA-approved racing harness - Passenger-seat delete standard

Note: standard McLaren Senna pictured here.

The GTR's interior retains most of the features and overall layout of the road-legal Senna, but McLaren made several modifications in order to prepare the car for track duty. For starters, it now features an FIA-approved roll cage and an FIA-approved carbon-fiber racing seat with a six-point harness. If you want to take a friend in the car while racing you can do so by ordering a matching passenger seat at no extra cost.

The Brits are removed features that would be useless and add unnecessary weight to a track-only car, such as the touch screen, the audio system, and the airbags. However, McLaren added track equipment like pneumatic air jacks, pit radio, a fire extinguishing system, and a data logger. The air-conditioning system has been retained so that drivers will feel comfortable in all track environments.

Note: standard McLaren Senna pictured here.

The folding instrument cluster and steering wheel from the road car have been replaced by race-spec units. The driver screen displays key data in simple forms and includes a row of gearshift LEDs along the top edge and additional LEDs that count down the closing distance of cars behind via the anti-collision radar system. The center display that replaces the Senna’s touchscreen shows the view from the rear-mounted camera. The GTR also features a forward facing camera and one in the cabin, so you can record every lap you perform.

The race-spec steering wheel comes form the 720S GT3, but it has different functionality for the buttons. The car now includes buttons for launch control, pit lane speed, and a light rain dynamic setting. The engine start button is mounted in the roof, just like in the road-legal Senna. The interior is rounded off by satin finish carbon-fiber trim, black carpet on the door sills, and an Alcantara headliner.

Note: standard McLaren Senna pictured here.0}

- 4.0-liter V-8 - 814 horsepower - 590 pound-feet of torque - 0 to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds - 200+ mph top speed - McLaren's quickest track car ever

As announced when the concept was launched back in 2018, the Senna GTR shares most of its drivetrain with the road-going Senna. Power comes from the same twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 that now features engine control recalibration and misses the secondary catalyst, which reduces back pressure. These changes enable McLaren to squeeze out an extra 25 horsepower from the V-8. This means that the mill generates 814 horsepower, making it the most powerful non-hybrid McLaren to date. Torque remains unchanged at 590 pound-feet.

How does it compare to its successor, the P1 GTR? Well, because the P1 had a hybrid drivetrain, it's a bit more powerful. The 3.8-liter v-8 and the electric motor provide 986 horsepower and at least 1,000 pound-feet of torque, so the Senna GTR is missing 172 horses and more than 400 pound-feet of torque. Without the electric motor, the P1 GTR is marginally less powerful than the Senna GTR, but the motor was also revised for track duty so we can't eliminate it from this equation.

But despite being less powerful than its predecessor, the Senna GTR has plenty of things to brag about. First, it's notably lighter. Tipping the scales at 2,619 pounds, it's 22 pounds lighter than the road-legal Senna and almost 700 pounds lighter than the P1 GTR. It also has a better power-to-weight ratio at 648 horsepower per ton. Actually, this is the best power-to-weight ratio of any McLaren, road or track, to date.

The Senna GTR's downforce rating is also downright astonishing at 2,205 pounds. That's 442 pounds more than the Senna and about 700 pounds more than the P1 GTR.

There are no performance figures to run by yet, but the GTR should be at least a tenth-second quicker than the Senna from 0 to 60 mph. All told, expect it to get there in 2.6 seconds. That's two tenths quicker than the P1 and the 720S.

Three driving modes are available, including Track, Race, and a new Wet mode. The Wet setting which provides greater support from the ESP and ABS electronic systems and was created specifically for use with wet tires.

The transmission, which includes a Launch Control function, is the same seven-speed SSG gearbox from the road-going Senna, but with certain revisions to handle the extra power.

2020 McLaren Senna GTR Specifications

Engine

4.0-liter twin turbocharged V8

Horsepower

814 HP

Torque

590 LB-FT

Dry weight

2,619 lbs

Power-to-weight ratio

684bhp-per ton

Transmission

7-speed plus reverse Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG)

0 to 60 mph

2.7 seconds

Top Speed

+200 mph


2020 McLaren Senna GTR Chassis and Suspension

The Monocage III-R structure rides on a suspension system derived from the 720S GT3 race car. A bit wider and lower than the Senna, the GTR features aluminum double wishbones, sprints, and anti-roll bars from McLaren's GT3 program, as well as a variable ride control unit that enables different ride heights. The four-way adjustable dampers and solid bushes also allow the Senna GTR to handle any kind of track scenario.

The brakes are larger than both the regular Senna and the 720S GT3 and bring together forged aluminum monobloc calipers and carbon-ceramic discs. The front axle features six-piston calipers, while the rear wheels have four-piston calipers. The layered discs measure 15.4 inches in diameter and feature machined cooling vanes.

The supercar is fitted with safety features like anti-lock braking, traction control and dynamic electronic stability control, and sensors for tire pressure and tire temperature, brake pad wear sensors, and brake disc-wipe technology.

2020 McLaren Senna GTR Pricing

McLaren did not release pricing information for the Senna GTR as of this writing, but we do know that production will be capped to 75 units. That's a significant decrease compared to the regular Senna's production of 500 examples, but not a surprising move from McLaren. GTR-badged supercars are usually exclusive.

Not only is it limited to only a few units, but the Senna GTR isn't for everyone. Only loyal customers, likely those who already own a Senna, will have access to the track-only supercar.

So how much will it cost? Well, given that the Senna retails from £750,000 including taxes in the United Kingdom, the track-prepped, limited-edition supercar could fetch well in excess of £1 million. That's a lot of cash, but it will cost less than its predecessor, the McLaren P1 GTR, which was priced at almost £2 million. U.S. pricing should jump over the $1.3 million. But worry not, all 75 units are already sold.

2020 McLaren Senna GTR Competition

What makes cars like the Senna GTR special is that it has been developed for track use only. And in most cases, buying one doesn't include the possibility to take it home. The cars are stored by the company and taken out of the garage and given to their owners only during specific track events. This was the case with the LaFerrari-based Ferrari FXX K, but that supercar is a bit old for the upcoming Senna GTR.

Aston Martin Vulcan

Although it's also sold out, the Vulcan is a more recent and more appropriate competitor for the Senna GTR. But unlike the McLaren, the Vulcan isn't based on a road-going supercar. Aston Martin designed it for scratch and conceived it as a track-only vehicle (although RML Group converted a unit to road-legal specs), so it's a full-fledged race car that can handle just about any track in the world. Under the hood lurks a 7.0-liter V-12 engine rated at an impressive 820 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. This is where things are radically different compared to the Senna GTR. Not only the Vulcan comes with a naturally aspirated mill, but it's also mounted in front of the driver and not behind the seats. Only 24 units were built and each was sold for at least $2.3 million.

Read our full story on the 2016 Aston Martin Vulcan.

Ferrari LaFerrari Successor

With the FXX K long and gone, Ferrari is likely already working on a track-ready supercar. However, before we get to see it, we will have to wait for Maranello to unveil the road-legal successor to the LaFerrari. This will probably happen in 2020. Most likely the new Ferrari-badged supercar will feature a hybrid drivetrain centered around a V-12 engine, but an all-electric setup is also possible. The track-only version could have a V-12 only though. No matter what's under the shell, this supercar should come with at least 1,000 horsepower on tap and some impressive lap times. Expect it to cost well in excess of $2 million.

Read our full review of the 2021 Ferrari LaFerrari Successor.

Conclusion

If you ever wanted to drive a Formula One car on the world's most exciting race tracks, than the Senna GTR is the closest thing to that experience. Sure, you won't be able to drive one if you don't own a regular Senna already, but you know what I mean. Already the most extreme supercar out there in terms of aerodynamics, the Senna has just become more radical with the GTR package. It sounds impossible I know, but McLaren managed to push the boundaries with the Speedtail and it did the same with the Senna GTR. I mean seriously know, 2,205 pounds of downforce? Not only it's way more than a P1 can generate, but it's about two thirds of the P1's curb weight!

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2019 McLaren Senna.

Read our full review on the 2018 McLaren Senna GTR Concept.

Read our full review on the 2016 McLaren P1 GTR.

Read our full review on the 1995 - 1997 McLaren F1 GTR.