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McLaren 12C Can-Am special edition

A new more powerful McLaren 12C racing variant is due to be unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours

McLaren is planning to launch a new version of the 12C racing car at the Pebble Beach concours. It’s an evolution of the GT3 race car, with 621bhp and 30 percent more downforce.

Under the skin, the racing car features the same carbon fibre monocoque as the 12C road car, and with all the upgrades, the total dry weight comes in at just 1200kg.

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A new aerodynamic package includes a carbon fibre front splitter, carbon fibre dive planes, and a carbon fibre wing, said to increase downforce by 30 percent over GT3-spec racer. This is largely due to the fact it isn’t adhering to any current race regulations.

The extra power comes from a revised version of the standard 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, which due to not having any restrictions, is producing a healthy 621bhp – making this the most powerful 12C variant yet.

The Can-Am is finished in McLaren Orange, as a tribute to the cars of Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme, who made McLaren such a big name in the USA during the 1960s and ‘70s.

The official statement from McLaren is that the Can-Am is currently a one-off design study, and has not been confirmed for production.

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