Formula 1 design legend Gordon Murray named the new trackday version of his upcoming T.50 supercar in honor of three-time world champion Niki Lauda.
Gordon Murray Automotive unveiled the T.50s Niki Lauda on Monday, which would have been 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 competed with Murray’s designed Brabhams in Formula 1 in 1978 and 79, is “fully supported” by his family and is a “tribute” to the driver.
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The car, like its road cousin, incorporates an update of the fan-car’s aerodynamics on Murray’s Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46B, which Lauda led to victory in the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp.
“The T.50s is named after Niki to celebrate his famous victory with the BT46B fan car at the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix,” said Murray.
“Niki was a great racing driver and also a good friend, and it is absolutely fitting that we are launching the T.50s Niki Lauda on his birthday.
“Niki would have appreciated the innovation and engineering details in our car.”
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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 have a chassis plate marked ‘Kyalami 1974’ in deference 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 carry its own individual story, 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.”
Murray, whose McLaren F1 GTR won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 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.
He has also been arguing with GT promoter Stephane Ratel about his new non-competitive GT1 Sports Club track days geared towards cars like the Aston Martin Valkyrie and McLaren Senna GTR.
Ratel suggested that this could turn into a complete series of races in the future.
At the launch of the T.50s Murray emphasized that the T50.s was designed “to create a driving experience on the track like no other car in history”, rather than looking for a lap time.
“We were not interested in achieving the best lap time or creating an overloaded and overloaded spacecraft at the expense of the driver’s involvement,” he explained.