Modified McLaren 720S GT3 Hits Monza
A potential McLaren test-mule race car makes some very different noises than the standard GT3 version.
When McLaren announced the new 720S GT3 for the 2019 racing season, it shocked many teams and competitors. McLaren changed or modified 90% of the structural components from the previous generation race car. This meant new bodywork, aerodynamics, suspension, and engine to power the British brand to victory in endurance racing.
Despite a widely departing from the previous 650S GT3 chassis, McLaren was supposed to keep the race version of the company’s 4.0L twin-turbo V8. However, in this video by YouTuber 19Bozzy92, recorded at a private 2-day test session at Monza, the 720S GT3 seems unusually fast for a GT3 car.
We know the 720S GT3 is without a doubt one of the most capable cars on the grid — it secured pole position in its first race ever — but this one doesn’t really sound like a GT3 at all. Rather, it sounds more like the street version of the V8 engine. The GT3 is characterized by having a deep, rumbly sound associated with it. This car sounds like pure turbo spool and whine. To make the situation even more interesting, the car was also later in the day testing the track. This time without the famous first chicane after the front straight at Monza. This allows drivers to skip past the slow section and carry speed all the way into turn 3 at around 200 MPH.
This orientation is really only tested by Le Mans Prototype cars. It replicates the incredible high-speed conditions found on the world-famous French endurance track. Why the McLaren team felt the necessity to run this orientation we don’t exactly know. We aren’t sure if this is a regular GT3. It may be modified for testing a different class or series.
This car might be a test-mule for the upcoming “hypercar” class coming to World Endurance Championship in the 2020/2021 season. This new class will see hypercars replace long-standing LMP1 cars. This class is similar to the nostalgic GT1 class from the ’90s. This class featured legends such as the McLaren F1 GTR and the Mercedes CLK GTR.
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