Gordon Murray Automotive unveiled the T.50s Niki Lauda on Monday in what would be the 72nd anniversary of the Austrian legend, who died in 2019.
The T.50s was developed in parallel with the road version of the car and, according to the GMA, was “conceived, designed and engineered to offer the best driving experience on the track”.
The name of the car in honor of Lauda, who ran Murray’s designed Brabhams in Formula 1 in 1978 and 79, is “fully supported” by his family and is a “tribute” to the driver. The car, like its road cousin, incorporates an update of the aerodynamics of the fan-car on Murray’s Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46B, which Lauda led to victory at Anderstorp in 1978.
Niki Lauda, Brabham BT46B
Photo by: Sutton Images
“The T.50s was named after Niki to celebrate his famous victory with the BT46B fan car at the 1978 Swedish GP,” said Murray. “Niki was a great racing driver and also a good friend, and it is absolutely appropriate that we are launching the T.50s Niki Lauda on his birthday.
“Niki would have appreciated the innovation and engineering details in our car.”
A total of 25 Niki Laudas T.50s, which are powered by a bespoke Cosworth V12 725bhp ordered by the GMA, will be built. Production of the £ 3.1 million racing machine will begin in January 2023, after delivery of the 100 passenger cars.
Each of the 25 cars will be designated individually after one of the F1 victories by a Murray-designed Brabham or McLaren. The first car will carry a chassis plate with the indication ‘Kyalami 1974’ in reference to the victory of the first Grand Prix of one of its cars, when Carlos Reutemann triumphed in the South African Grand Prix, driving a Brabham-Cosworth BT44.
“Each car will have its own individual history, being forever linked to the Grand Prix victory that gives its name,” explained Murray. “The T.50s is inspired by my love for motorsport, so it seemed totally appropriate to create that special connection with iconic racing from the past.”
Gordon Murray Automotive Niki Lauda T.50s
Photo by: Gordon Murray Design
Murray, whose McLaren F1 GTR at Le Mans 24 Hour in 1995, suggested that the T.50 could have a future in motorsport.
He revealed in November 2019 that he was looking at the new Le Mans Hypercar class and had already spoken to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, organizer of the 24 Hours and promoter of the World Endurance Championship.
At the launch of T.50s. he emphasized that the car was designed “to create a driving experience on the track like no other car in history”, rather than looking for the lap time.
“We were not interested in achieving the best lap time or creating a spaceship with excess tires and reduced strength at the expense of the driver’s involvement,” he explained.