800 kilos of downforce at 250 km/h, unique for a production vehicle. Twice as much as the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
The “plane” with the legendary name is the most extreme thing we have ever driven and tested. 800 hp, 800 Newton meters, 0 to 200 in 6.8 seconds, 1.7 kilos per hp, a body trimmed absolutely for downforce and aerodynamics, intelligent, moveable rear wing, the few switches pushed into the headliner, the ambience radically reduced to the bare minimum , the bucket seats as tight as vices – a genuine racing car that was laboriously forced into the corset of road approval.
Everything is different in the Senna
The Pirellis specially baked for the Senna are too narrow at the front. It would be even faster with wider soles.
Record pure formality
And then, when the Brits pulled the electric blankets off the Pirellis and the engineer raised his finger, I pulled the seat belt tighter than usual – and gathered all the strength in my head and arms. Believe me, I’ve driven over 700 cars at the Sachsenring in the last 20 years, but no lap has taken me as much as the Senna.
The huge wing and angry front design is more reminiscent of a starfighter than a sports car.
The centrifugal forces are so extreme that the helmet becomes heavy and the upper arms swell to Popeye level. The brain also has a hard time processing what this animal is doing with the curves. In the end, the record was a mere formality, the scenario is still unique today!
Specifications and price: McLaren Senna
engine: V8biturbo, center rear longitudinal
displacement: 3994 cm3
perfomance: 588 kW (800 hp) at 7250 rpm
Max. Torque: 800 Nm at 5500-6700 rpm
drive: rear wheel/7-speed double clutch
L/W/H: 4744/1958/1229mm
curb weight: 1354 kg
0-100km/h: 2.8s
0-300km/h: 17.5 s
Top: 340km/h
Price: 922,050 euros (2020)
