The brilliant McLaren Artura GT4 race car has been chosen to headline the renowned PalmerSport high performance driving event for 2025, marking the most significant upgrade to the legendary motorsport experience in its 34-year history.
The PalmerSport event was created by ex F1 driver and MotorSport Vision Group (MSV) Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer in 1991, and is world famous for being the only event where amateur participants get to push a fabulous range of fast machinery to the absolute limit.
The stunning road-going McLaren Artura supercar has already been awarded the coveted title of Britain’s Best Driver’s Car by Autocar magazine in 2024, and the GT4 is the dedicated race version, produced by the Woking manufacturer alongside its hugely successful Formula 1 cars, which is raced worldwide in sports GT events.
This extraordinary machine is a 100% racing thoroughbred, with many bespoke motorsport components to enhance performance. Indeed, the fully composite chassis of the Artura GT4 benefits from state-of-the-art McLaren Carbon Fibre Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) to provide significant weight reduction on its GT4 predecessors, as well as an immensely strong and safe survival cell for driver protection.
Behind the cockpit lies a compact, power-dense 3 litre V6 twin turbo power unit revving to 8500 rpm, which is lighter than previous McLaren GT4 engines, and with improved throttle response. The GT4 version has a seven-speed paddle shift gearbox, featuring shorter gear ratios and a mechanical limited slip differential for increased performance.
The Bosch Motorsports engine management system on the GT4 race car has been specially developed by McLaren for the Artura GT4s on the PalmerSport event programme, with a number of engine mapping modes to allow increments of power from 300 to 596 bhp. This enables the instructors to build up available performance to the guests as their skills develop, whilst also limiting power to safe levels for amateurs in wet conditions.
With advanced aerodynamics and slick racing tyres in dry conditions, grip levels are extraordinary, while enormous Alcon racing brakes incorporating a Bosch Motorsport ABS unit will provide huge stopping power and avoid locking wheels, for added safety.
This multi-championship winning Artura GT4 car marks a significant step up from the British marque’s previous GT4 race cars. Since its competitive debut in 2023, the Artura GT4 has established itself as a global benchmark in endurance racing. The car claimed several titles in 2024, including the outright crown in the GT4 European Series, and the top three spots in British GT’s GT4 class.
MSV has purchased seven Artura GT4 race cars to join PalmerSport’s extensive vehicle line-up, and they will run exclusively on the dedicated 1.5 mile South Circuit.
PalmerSport founder and MSV Chief Executive, Jonathan Palmer, said: “The addition of the McLaren Artura GT4 is hugely exciting for PalmerSport, and by far the biggest leap forward in our line-up since I launched the event in 1991.
“My close relationship with McLaren dates back 44 years, when I tested the MP4 F1 car as a reward for winning the British F3 championship in 1981. I then had an amazing time as their official F1 test driver for three years after retiring from Grand Prix racing, and became development driver for the original McLaren F1 supercar. I’m absolutely thrilled that we have finally been able to introduce a McLaren race car on our renowned PalmerSport event.
“What has made this possible is the fact that technological development has enabled McLaren to produce a race car that is not just prodigiously fast, but also very user friendly, so great for not just professional drivers but amateurs too. I drove and evaluated the Artura GT4 extensively at Bedford Autodrome last autumn, and was impressed with how delightful it was to drive. It’s so easy to get comfortable in, with an adjustable pedal box, great forward visibility, simple two pedal control with automatic clutch, very linear throttle response, instant gearshifts at the flick of a paddle, light power steering and ABS brakes.
“Never has such stunning performance been so accessible to amateurs. I can’t wait to see the reaction of our guests as they climb out after their sessions – mind blown, I’m sure!”
The addition of the McLarens to the PalmerSport programme replaces the BMW M4s, which will leave the line-up permanently in early May. The Artura GT4 will be exclusively available to drive as part of the legendary Full Day programme, and the precise details of the Half Day PalmerSport formats for this year will be announced shortly.
PalmerSport’s activity line-up from early May 2025:
- McLaren Artura GT4
- Fórmula 3000 monoplaza
- Prototipo deportivo Palmer JP-LM
- Ginetta G56 GTA
- Caterham Seven PalmerSport Edition
- Land Rover Defender
- Persecución cara a cara en Caterham
- Karts
- Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Taster (no cronometrado)
Acerca de PalmerSport
PalmerSport es un evento en el que los invitados conducen una fabulosa gama de emocionantes máquinas al límite en el Autódromo de Bedford, un complejo único de 800 acres que incluye cuatro circuitos separados, en un día inolvidable.
Lanzado por el ex piloto de F1 Jonathan Palmer en 1991, PalmerSport mantiene una reputación como el mayor evento de conducción del mundo, dando la bienvenida a pequeños grupos, individuos y grandes grupos corporativos. Todos los invitados reciben un día completo de hospitalidad junto con su tiempo al volante, con un magnífico catering en todo momento y unos anfitriones y jefes de equipo excepcionales.
Lo que hace que PalmerSport sea único y tenga tanto éxito es que se anima activamente a los invitados, a través de clases magistrales impartidas por instructores de talla mundial, a conducir tan rápido como deseen, con cronometraje en cada actividad del circuito. Las amplias zonas de pista y los sofisticados sistemas mantienen los más altos niveles de seguridad.
Para más información sobre PalmerSport, visite nuestro sitio web www.palmersport.com
Reservas
PalmerSport opera seis días a la semana (no los domingos) y la temporada va de marzo a principios de diciembre. Sin embargo, la programación actualizada no estará disponible hasta principios de mayo. La hora de conducción es siempre la misma, tanto si se trata de un particular que acude con su familia o amigos como si forma parte de una exclusiva reserva corporativa.
Para más información sobre reservas, llame al +44 (0)1403 733999 o envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected].
*Las imágenes mostradas incluyen el McLaren Artura Trophy. Las especificaciones reales del PalmerSport Artura pueden diferir ligeramente.