There was an event last weekend at the Goodwood Circuit called the Members’ Meeting. You might have seen a bit of content from it if you were anywhere near automotive social media during the last few days. More than a bit, actually.
Anyway, if you weren’t fortunate enough to attend and have been wallowing in FOMO since Saturday morning, then look away now. Because, in between lots of lovely and painfully expensive vintage racers duking it out on track, there were a few demo runs across the weekend, a couple of which were courtesy of Gordon Murray Automotive.
You can’t have missed the fact that the man behind the McLaren F1 and a host of bonkers racecar designs has launched his own company. Its first product, the roadgoing T.50, is sort of a spiritual successor to the F1 – naturally aspirated V12, manual gearbox, central seating position and all – and has started to land with its 100 customers.
Of course, you can’t be a self-respecting manufacturer of unbelievably exclusive hypercars in 2024 without making some sort of even more exclusive, even pricier track-only version, which is where the T.50S Niki Lauda comes in.
GMA T.50S – side
Originally announced back in 2021, it’s been steadily in development alongside the roadgoing T.50 and smaller T.33, and it was finally ready for a dynamic debut at the Members’ Meeting.
A quick reminder on some of the delicious details: a naturally aspirated, 3.9-litre V12 pumps out 725bhp and revs out to – wait for it – 12,100rpm. That all breathes through individual throttle bodies and a bespoke Inconel exhaust system. Oh, and there’s a giant fan out back helping suck it to the road.
GMA T.50S – rear
The result sounds a bit like all the noises of all the greatest Formula 1 and Le Mans racers of the last 50-odd years all lapping the track at once. Take a listen for yourself above. Assuming you don’t live within 30 miles of Chichester, in which case you probably heard it in person.