MSO pays tribute to Ayrton Senna's 1988 F1 title with a spectacular McLaren P1 GTR

The partnership between Honda and McLaren in Formula 1 in the late 1980s and early 1990s, combined with the talent of a great driver named Ayrton Senna, proved a deadly weapon for the rest of the teams trying to catch them. That great mix of genius and talent led to three world titles with the English marque for the Brazilian, the consolidation of his legend and, of course, a huge rivalry with his teammate Alain Prost.

But besides building one of the best cars on the grid, the McLaren-Honda of that era is remembered with great affection for its beauty, enhanced by the livery provided by its main sponsor at the time, Marlboro. It was not, and will not be, the only racing livery elevated to legendary status, but the myth of Ayrton Senna has certainly lifted it and kept it in the memory of many enthusiasts, including that of an anonymous buyer of the spectacular McLaren P1 GTR that accompanies these lines.

This anonymous buyer, a huge fan of Ayrton Senna and of McLaren, has spent three years working hand in hand with McLaren Special Operations to create a McLaren P1 GTR that serves to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s first world title with the marque. Moreover, a build like this required more than a simple wrap, as MSO usually gives us, so along with the livery you can see, significant aerodynamic improvements have also been added to an already spectacular car.

To achieve the aesthetic result you see, more than 800 hours of work were required, during which the colours McLaren Rocket Red and Anniversary White were used to place and recreate exactly the same livery as the McLaren-Honda single-seaters. Small details have also been included, such as the Senna logo on elements like the front splitter, next to the roof air intake and on both doors, the number 12 on the nose, plus the Brazilian flag and a barcode that also serves as a reminder of Marlboro, all rounded off with the legend “Drive to Perfection” on the doors.

If we open these, a reproduction of Ayrton Senna’s signature and a legend on the carbon fibre chassis will welcome us, before we sit down, driver and passenger alike, in the Super Lightweight Racing seats developed for the McLaren Senna, which also help reduce the overall weight. Alcantara has also been used to upholster the steering wheel of the McLaren P1 GTR and the dashboard, with contrasting stitching, and the final touches are the Senna logo on the steering wheel and on the panel facing the passenger, along with a red line running across the dashboard and the door panels.

Although its engine is not improved, and we don’t think it really needs it, certain modifications have also been made that help final performance. The engine bay has been covered with a 24-carat gold layer, while the engine covers themselves have been modified and, finally, the engine cover now features Lexan polycarbonate resin, which also helps reduce the final weight of the whole.

In the aerodynamic section there are also improvements that achieve a total downforce of around 800 kilograms. To do this, the wings at the front have been modified, including the front splitter, while at the rear a Gurney-type spoiler has been added to the P1 GTR’s own rear wing, as well as side sections much larger than the ones fitted as standard, with ducts that, apart from recalling those on the MP4/4, also redirect the airflow far more efficiently.

As the icing on the cake of this build, McLaren Special Operations has created a bespoke helmet for its anonymous customer. Needless to say, only one unit has been made, so if you ever get the chance to see it on the road, don’t hesitate to capture the moment.