It is as well that I had no time to look at the speedometer of the McLaren 570S GT4 racing car as, lap after lap, I hit the compression at the bottom of Spa-Francorchamps' Eau Rouge corner.
Because if I had, I’d have discovered that I was turning into perhaps the most feared and fabled turn in all of motor racing at exactly 144mph. And then I’d have needed to park up, get out and lie down. If you’re interested, the McLaren also does 135mph at the exit of Pouhon and 140mph at the apex of Blanchimont. If you’re on it at all, your average speed for an entire lap is well over 100mph.
It wasn’t always like that. When, three days earlier, I reported to Spa-Francorchamps to take part in the first round of the first-ever McLaren one-make race series, it was with something of a spring in my step.
I knew the circuit, having done a six-hour race here in a 50-something- year-old Ford Falcon for more years than I care to count.
The 570S is just about my favourite car on sale and the idea of one with racing suspension, brakes and aero, and thick, slick race tyres seemed too good to be true. What’s more, I’d been allocated my own driver coach for the weekend – Benny Simonsen, who has a victory in the Spa 24 Hours to his name.
Even Bruno Senna was floating around, at the disposal of the dozen wealthy drivers taking part. Okay, 11 wealthy drivers. And me. How wealthy? Well, if you want to do the entire six-round series on some of Europe’s finest circuits, the all-inclusive package costs £162,000, and that’s in your own race car that McLaren will fettle and transport for you. If you don’t have a car, McLaren will be happy to hire you a 570S for one, more or all of the rounds.
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McLaren is so quick...GT4 regulations require...detuned
Your bias is showing...AGAIN! Many GT4s are restricted according to the balance of performance rule. That's why 570s and AMG GTs with turbo V8s can compete in GT4 against vastly cheaper Alpine A110s, Caymans, 370Zs and KTMs. Or to put it another way, isn't it a bit pathetic that a 570S is racing against cars with half the cylinder count and a fraction of the price?
A driving God....?
I know he’s in “da family” but in his F1 career he didn’t exactly shine......
So, why is McLaren...
so ostentateously absent in the race of all races: Le Mans? It has been for years now.