[ad_1]
Gordon Murray Automotive has announced a “race-focused” version of its upcoming T.50 supercar that will be even lighter, faster and more powerful.
However, the car is not intended for any existing racing series, rather the current plan is a combination of independently hosted T50 events internally with ongoing discussions with SRO on the possible inclusion of cars within the concept of a GT1 sports club and racing series for current supercars.
Priced at £ 3.1 million (before tax), the racing variant, codenamed T.50s, weighs just 890kg, while its Cosworth GMA V12 engine develops even more power. The new car also features a 1,758mm wide delta wing mounted at the rear of the car, which is powered by the rear fan, a new front splitter, underbody aerodynamic profile and adjustable diffusers to generate over 1,500kg of downforce: 170% of the car’s weight. 25 examples of the T50 are planned with more than half pre-sale (all production of the T50 is also pre-sold).
Professor Gordon Murray: “With an unwavering focus on performance, and free from road legislation and maintenance considerations, the T.50 will achieve astonishing performance on the track, demonstrating the full extent of the car’s capabilities. We have done our best to take this car beyond the levels of anything that has been done before; it is a celebration of British engineering and our team’s vast experience in motorsport. “
The T.50s features hundreds of significant revisions for race and track use over the road T.50. The minimalist interior contributes to the new car’s 94kg weight loss.
Motorsport-Inspired Aerodynamics
One of the most significant performance-enhancing additions to the T.50 is a 1,758mm wide delta wing mounted at the rear of the car, which echoes the front wing design on the 1983 Brabham BT52 Formula One car from Murray. The visually striking wing works with a new underbody aerodynamic profile, front splitter, adjustable diffusers and the car’s 400mm fan to generate more than 1,500kg of downforce – 170% of the car’s 890kg weight.
While the road-focused T.50 features six different aerodynamic modes, the T.50s operates in high-downforce mode at all times, with the underbody diffuser vents fully open and the fan running permanently at 7,000 rpm. . The fan cleans the air from the upper and lower surfaces of the car, with the flow of the underside of the body accelerated through the redesigned rear diffuser and with a steep incline of the car.
The other significant aerodynamic improvement over the road spec T.50 is an aerodynamic fin that runs from the top of the roof to the rear edge of the car, dominating the rear profile. The fin improves efficiency and stability when cornering, as well as cleaning and channeling air over the car body towards the hang glider.
In addition to optimizing downforce and cornering stability, the aerodynamic package also allows the T.50 to generate around 2.5G – 3G when braking.
Murray: “Designing the aerodynamics of the race car has been extremely rewarding. My love of motorsports really drove the development of this car. The aerodynamics are so effective that the T.50 would be able to drive backwards, and they could do it at just 175 mph. ”
Even more powerful engine
The Cosworth GMA V12 engine has been extensively reworked to extract maximum performance. Its power output now increases beyond 700hp through completely revised cylinder heads and camshafts, a higher compression ratio and a completely new free-flow exhaust system.
Murray: “Without any emissions or noise legislation to deal with, we could unleash the full potential of the GMA V12 engine and its 12,100 rpm. More than 50 components have been changed in the engine alone and the power can exceed 730 hp if the new ram air induction system is taken into account. “
The T.50’s roof-mounted ram air intake has been modified to be proud of the roof to maximize air intake above the car’s boundary layer. The periscope-style input feeds the engine as speed increases, generating around 30hp of additional power.
The T.50s features an all-new six-speed IGS (Instant Gearchange System) pre-selector gearshift system from Xtrac. The custom transmission features new gear ratios, optimized for speed, with paddles that replace the manual road car setup.
Interior and racing controls
Inside the T.50, the cabin lacks the instrumentation, air conditioning, infotainment, storage compartments, and road car floor mats. Once again, the driver sits in the center, this time in a new carbon fiber racing seat fitted with a six-point harness. To the left of the driver, there is only one passenger seat left allowing a co-pilot … or a very brave passenger!
The steering wheel is a rectangular, Formula One-style carbon fiber design. Unlike a Formula One wheel, Murray removed all essential controls to give up traction and launch control functions, and buttons to activate the lane intercom. boxes and select neutral. The design allows optimal grip and control, while providing perfect access to the wheel-mounted shift paddles.
By replacing road-use displays, T.50 customers will be able to view readouts that present key performance-focused information, including track lap times, G-forces and essential vehicle / engine data.
Performance focus
The T.50’s carbon monocoque remains the basis of the race car, but much of the rest of the T.50 features significant changes, including the body panels and all chassis elements, primarily to minimize weight. Beneath the skin, while the up-speed suspension on the T.50 holds up, the spring speeds, shocks, and front stabilizer bar on the T.50 are tuned for racing.
Continuing with Murray’s philosophy that even supercars don’t need fully custom tires, the new car uses Michelin Cup Sport 2 tires. These are mounted on forged magnesium wheels that significantly reduce the car’s unsprung mass, another improvement that it is offered without the need to consider the kilometers traveled on the road.
Stopping power is provided by the T.50’s high-capacity Brembo carbon ceramic discs with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear. The brakes feature improved cooling through new ducts around each wheel, a necessary development to cope with the extremes of heat that 2.5G-3G braking forces could generate during racing.
Oil cooling systems for the engine and transmission have been relocated to the sides of the car to improve airflow to the rear wing and allow for the center fin. The T.50 also has much lower ride heights (40mm lower front and rear) than the road car.
Customer experience
Every T.50 buyer receives a complete ‘Trackspeed’ individualization package that includes setup, training, racing and support. In order to offer a fully customizable and personalized racing experience, a wide spectrum of adjustments can be made to the T.50 to suit individual customer preferences and driving style. This individualized configuration process, along with free mastery of exterior colors and liveries, will ensure that each T.50 is unique.
Beyond custom ergonomic configuration of the seat, steering wheel and pedals, the Gordon Murray Automotive team will work with each owner to configure the car to each owner’s specifications. Owners can fine-tune the suspension, chassis balance, and adjust the hang glider to optimize their car’s performance and suit their driving style and requirements.
Murray: “I would like to host a series of racing events as part of our Trackspeed package to ensure that owners drive the T.50 regularly. There will be nothing like the experience of driving this car. And hear it … well, that will be something else! I would like each of the 25 cars to be completely unique from setup to paint finish. “
Murray and his team have been in talks with SRO’s Stéphane Ratel about the potential of a GT1 sports club and racing series for today’s supercars. The Gordon Murray Automotive team will offer a full range of pit, garage and support equipment for the T.50.
Almost two-thirds of the 100-unit production of the T.50 road car was sold before its introduction; And all the models were sold out within 48 hours after the world premiere on August 4. It is already spoken by more than half of the T.50 models. The 100 T.50 road cars will be manufactured in the UK by Gordon Murray Automotive throughout 2022. Production of the 25 T.50 race cars will begin in the first quarter of 2023.
