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icholls^ ]QMCLAREN 765LT £280,000 / stuff.tv/765LT
e’re at Silverstone and
it’s bucketing down.
Poor visibility, standing
water, low tyre temperatures
and unpredictable grip would be
disconcerting behind the wheel
of a Renault Twingo, yet we’re
sliding under the dihedral door
of a particularly fruity McLaren:
its latest ‘Longtail’ Super Series
car, the 765LT. Gulp.
This car is based on the already
very fast and eye-catching 720S,
with power increased to 755bhp
in old money. The engineers
don’t seem worried. They pop
on some slightly more treaded
tyres and off we go.
Powering down the Hangar
Straight in the dry, you might
expect to touch 180mph; in thewet, I’m hitting 150mph but
spinning the wheels in fifth
gear. In these conditions you
either need to know what you’re
doing or you need to be careful...
but a hallmark of McLarens
on the limit is that, despite all
the speed and power, they help
to build your confidence. Show
it some respect and the 765LT
turns you into a better driver.TERRITORIAL PISTONS
In addition to the horsepower
boost over the 720S, the 765LT
has forged aluminium pistons and
the three-layer head gasket from
the Senna hypercar. Plus there’s
an additional pump to fire in more
fuel. Zero to 124mph takes only
7.2 seconds – and it’s above thenational speed limit that the car
comes into its own, sucking itself
to the ground as it races into
three digits.
The way it rips through the
revs is ferocious, and the gear
changes make a pleasing ‘crack’
that thumps you in the back, but
it’s the light weight and steering
sensitivity that really impress, in
partnership with the aerodynamic
grip (aided by a huge rear wing)
and the bite of the brakes.TAKIN’ IT TO THE SEATS
The cockpit is tidier than that of
a racing car, but just as focused.
Everything, including the seats,
is either bare carbon-fibre (like
the monocoque and body panels)
or Alcantara. There’s no air-conor audio system, unless you ask
for it, but you could use this as a
road and track car without feeling
compromised in either setting.
It’s a better all-rounder than the
rapid but rattly Senna.
We would kill for some dry
Tarmac to squash those tyres
into submission. This is why
we’re hoping for a Spider version
next year to further explore this
miraculous machine... although
we’d definitely spec ours with a
snorkel roof-scoop, which rules
out the topless option.Key specs
Engine 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Power 755bhp
0-62mph 2.8 secs
Top speed 205mphSTUFF SAYS You’ll struggle to get anywhere close to this car’s limits +++++
My kind of down
Radically lightened
by 80kg and lower
to the road, the
765LT creates 24%
more downforce
than the 720S.Ratio gaga
The 4.0L twin-turbo
V8 produces 765ps
(755bhp), hence the
name, resulting in
a class-leading
614bhp per tonne.W
GROUP TEST SUPERCARS