McLaren GT began development of the 12C GT3 in March 2011, when the first iteration of the stunning new race car undertook debut tests at the MIRA proving ground and Silverstone Stowe Circuit in the UK. Subsequent tests at two of Europe’s most challenging new circuits; Circuito de Navarra in northern Spain and Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, were followed by a race debut in the British GT Championship at Spa-Francorchamps early in July. At the end of July, three examples of the 12C GT3 competed in the Total 24 hours of Spa.
The 12C GT3 race car is based on the groundbreaking 12C sports car. McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh said: “This is an exciting time for McLaren. In 2011 McLaren Automotive has launched. A new £40m McLaren Production Centre will officially open later this year and development programmes for McLaren Automotive’s future range of sports cars are well underway.
The 12C GT3 will be supplied with a steering wheel of the same design employed by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. McLaren GT is working with Formula 1 suppliers past and present in developing the 12C GT3, including Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin.
McLaren GT set the price of the new MP4-12C GT3 at £310,000. Customers of the car have been encouraged by the promise of no hidden costs and the opportunity to work with McLaren GT engineers throughout 2012 in developing the 12C GT3 to their own race specification.
