A fitting tribute to the legendary F1 champ
One could imagine the inspiration felt within McLaren at naming a model after Aryton Senna. The legendary Formula One champion driver died tragically in a crash in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy in his first season for the Williams team. Naming an ultimate track car for the driver, a national hero in his home country, Brazil, seemed like a fitting tribute.
Senna drove for McLaren from 1988 to 1993 and won his three Formula One World Championships with the team (1988, 1990, 1991). He became the youngest driver at that time to win three F1 championships, and the youngest to win back-to-back championships.
The McLaren Senna, appropriately, was an uncompromising though street-legal track car, with mind-bending acceleration and handling and eardrum-busting sound. McLaren made 500 Senna models from 2018-2021. RM Sotheby’s has a 2019 Senna available at its Scottsdale auction. The car, with just 600 miles from new, is #64 of the 500 built and has a pre-sale estimate of $1M-$1.2M.
Photo credit: McLaren Automotive
Building on Senna’s Legacy
The most ardent supercar enthusiasts could probably agree that McLaren succeeded in honoring Senna’s memory with the car that bears his name. Car and Driver summarized its Senna track test, saying, “Forget SpaceX; a check for $964,966 can make you an astronaut today.”
When you did write that check, McLaren contributed a portion of the profits to the Aryton Senna Foundation. Started by Ayrton’s sister to help underprivileged children, the Foundation also received the $2 million pounds a buyer paid at a charity auction for the final Senna, car #500. That was about $2.7 million at the time.
Photo credit: John Afravi ©2024 courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Lightning on the Track
McLaren made the Senna one of its Ultimate Series cars, along with the P1. But while the P1 was a hybrid, the Senna was 789 horsepower worth of pure internal combustion. Those horses came from a specially engineered version of McLaren’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, known as the M840TR. Dry-sump lubrication, lightweight forged internal components, and ultra-low-inertia, twin-scroll turbochargers were key features. A roof-mounted snorkel funneled intake air to a Senna-exclusive carbon-fiber intake plenum.
As in other McLaren’s then, the engine teamed with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for lightning-quick shifts. “Lightning” could also describe the car’s speed. That’s what you get with nearly 800 horsepower in a 3,000-pound car, according to Car and Driver’s test. (The 2,600-pound weight noted by RM Sotheby’s was the factory claim; delivered cars were heavier.) The McLaren Senna scorched the tarmac from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, reaching 100 mph 5.1 and 150 mph in 10.
That was a feat that Senna drivers, given a nice long drag strip, could repeat using launch control. With the feature engaged and the driver’s foot holding the brake pedal, the system would hold the engine at 3,000 rpm, signaling when to release the brake. Then, “Whoosh!” you’d be flying toward a quarter-mile run of 10.1 seconds at 147 mph.
On second thought, “Whoosh!” would be the inappropriate description of the sound. Car and Driver recorded an ear-splitting 102 decibels at full acceleration. The sound wasn’t just the engine but also the tires, wind, and transmission all contributing. The 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS hit 108 db, but this was not a contest where anyone’s ears would be winners.
Photo credit: John Afravi ©2024 courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Unrelenting Road Grip
McLaren did not build the Senna to drag-race, of course. Its name alone dictated that it be able to master a road course. To that end, the engineers and aerodynamicists swung for the fences. When the driver pushed the “Race” button, the Senna meant business, lowering on its suspension by 1.5 inches in front and 1.2 in the back and activating aero slats in front.
The active front winglets and a front splitter directed airflow under the car. Hot air from the front-mounted radiators flowed from the hood vents and over the roof to the huge rear wing. The hydraulically controlled wing continuously adjusted automatically to optimize downforce, which could exceed 1,700 pounds at 155 mph. The wing also functioned as an air brake.
The vehicle’s carbon-ceramic brakes were inspired by those on F1 racecars, and McLaren claimed they could stop the car from 200 km/h (124 mph) in 100 meters (328 feet).
Photo credit: John Afravi ©2024 courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
A New Chance at One in 500
The McLaren Senna was all-business inside, featuring one-piece carbon-fiber seats and the bare essential screens for monitoring performance. The Senna was intended for road use, too, so the comfort of air conditioning and an optional Bowers & Wilkins seven-speaker audio were welcome. Whether you could hear it was another matter.
Photo credit: John Afravi ©2024 courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
According to RM Sotheby’s, the Senna offered came with over $50,000 in McLaren Special Operations (MSO) additions, including “touring size” seats, doors with Gorilla Glass, and custom headrests and door sill panels. The car’s Mira Orange exterior on this car is set off by Burton Blue accents, including on the brake calipers, wheel centers, active aero elements, and the doors gas support struts. The car’s original retail price was $1,011,742. McLaren San Francisco handled scheduled maintenance and diagnostic testing for the first owner.
Will you bid to become its second owner? Get a quote today!
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