McLaren Automotive have announced their new McLaren Trophy, which will support the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS from 2023.
The one-make series will feature a new version of the McLaren Artura, already announced in GT4 form, the ‘baby’ Mclaren will now spawn another racing version – the Artura Trophy.
The Artura Trophy is based on the Artura GT4 but without the constraints of Balance of Power (BoP) regulations. This provides the benefit of enhanced power and downforce levels to increase engagement and reduce lap times to a level closer to GT3 machinery.
The Artura Trophy also shares much with the McLaren Artura road car, including the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) chassis. The all-new 120-degree twin turbo V6 engine will produce 585PS in the Artura Trophy, and with the car running lighter than in GT4 and with an enhanced aerodynamic package, which includes a high-downforce wing plus a bespoke exhaust system, performance is set to be at a very high level.
Unlike the road car, but in common with the GT4, the Artura Trophy will run with only an internal combustion engine, the road car version also features hybrid drive.
That also means that car owners will also be able to easily convert their cars to GT4-specification by adjusting the engine management software and changing the aerodynamic package.
Cars will be run by independent teams with the existing 570S Trophy cars also eligible for the series. Many of these cars are owned by competitors from the previous Pure McLaren GT Series and the 570S Trophy cars will compete for class wins and championships in 2023.
The new championship will join the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS bill and will be branded McLaren Trophy, Europe. Races will also be streamed live in professional broadcast quality.
Race weekends will begin with two 60-minute practice sessions on the opening day to give the drivers the best opportunity to prepare for the two races ahead. Each race day will follow the same format, with a 15-minute pre-qualifying session, 15 minutes’ qualifying, followed by a 50-minute race with mandatory pit stops for driver changes. For Pro-Am pairings, the Am driver must qualify the car and start the races, putting them at the centre of the action.
Both the Artura Trophy and 570S Trophy cars will be shod by Pirelli.
The inaugural McLaren Trophy season will feature five races at iconic Grand Prix circuits including Paul Ricard, Hockenheim and Barcelona, with a round on the bill of the famous Spa 24-Hour race.
2023 McLaren Trophy, Europe calendar
June 2/4: Paul Ricard
June 30/July 2: Misano
July 27/30: Spa-Francorchamps
September 1/3: Hockenheim
September 29/October 1: Barcelona
Ian Morgan, Director of Motorsport, McLaren Automotive: “I’m really looking forward to seeing the new Artura Trophy car in action. From my experience in both motorsport and at McLaren I genuinely believe that this is a great race car and a massive step on from anything we’ve ever produced before for this type of championship. There’s nothing that exists currently to offer the same prospect to aspiring or professional and amateur GT drivers and already we’ve had a huge interest in both the new car and the championship.”
Gareth Dunsmore, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Automotive: “We are excited to announce the McLaren Trophy, featuring the new Artura Trophy race car; an elite motorsport championship with a premium paddock experience that is the epitome of the McLaren brand. As the world of Pro-Am GT racing continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming both old friends and the next generation of McLaren drivers to our paddock and many exciting seasons of racing with the spectacular new Artura Trophy race car.”
Included within the package is a McLaren Concierge service aimed at providing a seamless experience including hotel bookings and transfers, ensuring that the competitor’s focus is entirely on their on-track performance.
Central to the paddock is the McLaren race centre, which takes inspiration from the McLaren Formula 1 team, where drivers can entertain friends, family, sponsors and team managers, host meetings or simply relax. Competitors will also benefit from the racing paddock environment experienced by the fortunate few who race for McLaren.
