The McLaren 720S Le Mans pays tribute to the F1 GTR’s 1995 triumph
Special editions have been a little thin on the ground recently, what with the Coronavirus crisis pausing global manufacturing. But McLaren has reminded us exactly why we love them, with the surprise launch of the special edition 720S Le Mans coupe, which celebrates the 25-year anniversary of its 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans race win.
On 18th June 1995, JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya claimed victory in what was McLaren’s constructor debut in the world-famous race, taking the chequered flag in the F1 GTR #59, ahead of three other McLaren F1 GTRs that finished in the top five. The win secured the British manufacturer a place in the motorsport history books, and completed the holy grail of racing success, alongside the Formula 1 World Championship and the Indianapolis 500.
The 720S Le Mans pays tribute to that victory. Just 50 examples of the 720S Le Mans will be built, each featuring a Le Mans dedication plate, ‘McLaren 25 Anniversary Le Mans’ logos and a VIN beginning with 298, a very subtle nod to the number of laps completed by the race-winning F1 GTR, which happened to be one more than its closest rival.
The sleek coupé will come in either McLaren Orange or Sarthe Grey with a complementing or contrasting interior, plus various unique features including a gloss black roof scoop, aerodynamic carbon-fibre louvred front bumpers, F1 GTR-inspired five-spoke LM wheels and gold brake callipers (in colour only, unfortunately). In the Alcantara-clad cabin, carbon-fibre racing seats and ‘embroidered ‘McLaren 25 anniversary Le Mans’ will leave the driver in no doubt as to the exclusive nature of the model.
It will be powered by the 720S’ mid-mounted, 720PS M840T 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which offers 0-62mph acceleration of 2.9 seconds, reaching 124mph in 7.8 seconds and an eventual top speed of 212mph. Cradling the exquisite engine is the carbon-fibre Monocage II, while there’s the usual McLaren’s Proactive Chassis Control II suspension system that makes the 720S accelerate, brake and steer so well
Optional equipment will be as plentiful as the demand for this incredibly exclusive car, with McLaren Special Operations treatments, carbon-fibre and satin finish components, and various track-derived safety devices – including a titanium harness bar and six-point harnesses – available.
Just 16 of these cars will be available in Europe, costing £254,500. The order books are open now, with deliveries prevued in September.
McLaren
F1 GTR
720S
720S Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
1995
new car
