McLaren 720S Le Mans
Special edition 720S coupé celebrates the anniversary of McLaren’s 1995 race win
McLaren Automotive is celebrating one of McLaren’s greatest motorsport achievements – victory on its first attempt in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – with a special edition 720S coupé. Just 16 of this Le Mans edition will be available in Europe, from a total of 50 worldwide.
The 720S Le Mans has been created to mark 25 years since McLaren F1 GTR #59 won the world-famous endurance race. Driven by JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya, the car took the chequered flag on June 18, 1995. Three other McLaren F1 GTRs finished in the top five, with victory at Le Mans also ensuring McLaren a place in motorsport history as winners of the French 24-hour classic, the Formula 1 World Championship and the Indianapolis 500.
Taking the 720S supercar to a new level of exclusivity, each of the Le Mans edition cars carries a dedication plate featuring a ‘McLaren 25 Anniversary Le Mans’ logo. The VIN of each car will begin with 298, in recognition of the number of laps completed by the race-winning F1 GTR – one more than its closest rival.
The fully-functional roof scoop channels air to provide additional cooling for the powertrain and helps to drive heat evacuation – ideal for the additional demands of circuit driving. The carbon fibre louvred front fenders reduce aerodynamic lift generated by the rotation of the front wheels, as well as reducing vehicle weight.
720S Le Mans owners will be able to experience the astonishing performance delivered by the mid-mounted, 530kw M840T 4.0-litre McLaren engine. The twin-turbocharged V8 propels the car from 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds, 0-200kph in 7.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 341kph. A carbon fibre Monocage II central structure and Proactive Chassis Control II suspension system help to ensure that the 720S is the lightest car in its class, with an unparalleled breadth of dynamic ability.
In common with every McLaren 720S, an extensive range of optional specification is offered, with MSO Defined and MSO Bespoke treatments also available to owners’ requirements. An array of gloss finish visual carbon fibre components, including diffuser, exterior door uppers, rear aero bridge, roof scoop and rear deck and service cover can be specified, with three component ‘packs’ additionally available, comprising gloss finish visual carbon fibre hood air intakes, door mirrors, rear fender air intakes; front splitter and rear bumper lower and roof and front air intakes.
To further enhance the motorsport connection and for track use, a titanium harness bar and 6-point harnesses from the MSO Defined range can be added. Satin finish visual carbon fibre air vents, extended shift paddles and extended sill trim with McLaren branding from the same range are also available, and two option packs of satin finish visual carbon fibre interior components can be specified.
Deliveries of the McLaren 720S Le Mans are expected to start in September 2020.
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FAQ
Q: What does the McLaren 720S Le Mans cost in South Africa?
The McLaren 720S Le Mans will set you back around R6.8 million in South Africa, though with only 50 made worldwide and just 16 for Europe, you'll be lucky to find one locally without paying a hefty premium to import specialists.
Q: How much power does the McLaren 720S Le Mans have?
The 720S Le Mans packs a serious punch with 530kW from its twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, which rockets this beast from 0-100kph in just 2.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 341kph.
Q: What makes the McLaren 720S Le Mans special compared to a regular 720S?
The Le Mans edition gets exclusive touches like a functional roof scoop for extra cooling, carbon fibre louvred front fenders, special anniversary badging, and a VIN starting with 298 to commemorate the race-winning F1 GTR's lap count from 1995.
Q: Is the McLaren 720S Le Mans worth buying over a regular 720S?
If you've got the extra R2 million lying around and appreciate McLaren's racing heritage, the Le Mans edition offers genuine functional upgrades and serious collector appeal, but a standard 720S delivers 99% of the performance for significantly less cash.
Q: How rare is the McLaren 720S Le Mans?
Extremely rare, with only 50 examples built worldwide and just 16 allocated to Europe, making this one of the most exclusive modern McLarens you can buy.
Should You Buy It?
The McLaren 720S Le Mans is a definite yes if you're a serious collector with R6.8 million to spare and a passion for McLaren's racing heritage. This isn't just a badge job, the functional aero upgrades, roof scoop cooling, and ultra-limited production run of 50 cars worldwide make it a genuine future classic. However, if you simply want mind-bending supercar performance, save yourself R2 million and go for the standard 720S, which delivers virtually identical thrills for around R4.8 million. The Le Mans edition is for those who want exclusivity and racing pedigree with their 530kW of fury, not just speed.
