GMA T.50s to make its world dynamic debut at 81MM | GRR
Gordon Murray Automotive will return to Goodwood once again to reveal its latest concoction of V12 power, stunning design and cutting-edge engineering, the T.50s. It’ll make its global dynamic debut at the 81st Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport in the hands of IndyCar legend Dario Franchitti.
It’s a more extreme version of the GMA T.50 optimised exclusively for track use with wholesale changes to the chassis, aerodynamics, engine, transmission and interior making the T.50s an entirely different beast to the car we saw make its dynamic debut at the 79th Members’ Meeting.
Among the most obvious changes are the addition of a massive rear wing supplemented by a shark fin projecting from the rear of the cabin. The front end is now characterised by an equally large splitter with turning vanes jutting out from beneath the headlights, each sending air back into the intakes carved out of the bodywork ahead of the rear wheels.
Hidden beneath the bodywork, the ground-effect fan, inspired by Gordon Murray’s legendary Brabham BT46 F1 car, is also set up to run in a ‘High Downforce mode’. In all, the GMA T.50s will be producing up to 1,200kg of downforce as it makes its way around the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
Another thing you can’t see, but you’ll certainly be able to hear, is the 3.9-litre V12 Cosworth engine. Again, it’s been dramatically overhauled for the T.50s to now produce 772PS (568kW) at 11,500rpm, on its way to a 12,100rpm redline. It’s also been made 12kg lighter than its implementation in the T.50, which underlines the efforts that have been made to develop the ultimate track weapon.
The T.50s is also fitted with a bespoke six-speed transmission that will be offered with either long or short-ratio gears to help optimise the car for any given race track. Truly, it seems GMA has left no stone unturned in the search for the ultimate hypercar.
Underneath what is a whole new body, the interior of the T.50s evokes the feel of a Formula 1 cockpit. The driver sits centrally, as they would in the standard T.50, with a rectangular carbon-fibre steering wheel and a single digital display. A panel of switches on the driver’s right gives it a true racing car feel.
Made up of a carbon-fibre monocoque wrapped in a carbon body, the T.50s weighs less than 900kg, which gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 851PS per tonne, making it more potent than many of the world’s most famous racing cars including the likes of the LMP1 machinery we enjoyed at the 77th Members’ Meeting.
The GMA T.50s will roll out onto the Motor Circuit at 11:50 on Saturday 13th April for what is bound to be a hugely entertaining first run, we’re very much looking forward to hearing that V12 howl once more. It’ll be sharing the track with ‘James’, a test mule for the upcoming T.33. Both cars will return to action on Sunday 14th April at 14:55.
A further two T.50s models, plus the T.50s Niki Lauda, will be situated in the paddocks for a special showcase of the development process for GMA’s all-new hypercar, where Franchitti will be sitting for Q&A sessions on both Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday tickets, weekend tickets and grandstand passes have now sold out for the 81st Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport. Sunday tickets are limited so book now to join us for the 2024 motorsport season opener. You don’t want to miss it.