Final Testing Before Series Production
More than five years have passed since Gordon Murray Automotive presented the T.50s Niki Lauda model—a special track-focused version of their three-seater sports car. Over these years, the car underwent thorough development and is finally ready for series production, having successfully passed final tests that demonstrated its incredible speed.
Record Lap at the Bahrain Circuit
At the wheel of the bright green experimental T.50s prototype named XP3 was Dario Franchitti. At the Bahrain International Circuit, he set an impressive time of 1:53.03. This result is seven seconds faster than the absolute lap record for GT3 cars and approximately ten seconds better than the usual lap times of these racing cars.
The Bahrain circuit was chosen for the final stage of development due to its combination of high-speed corners, heavy braking zones, and hot conditions. If the T.50s can perform flawlessly here, it will easily handle any other track.
Extreme Loads and High Speed
During the lap, Franchitti experienced loads of up to 3g under braking and 2.7g in high-speed corners, reaching a top speed of 184 miles per hour (296 km/h).
“The T.50s is the most exciting car I have ever driven. In terms of pure fun factor, it surpasses all other track models, my favorite supercars of all time, and even the racing cars I won several world championships with. Gordon Murray set out to create the ultimate racing driving experience. The team didn’t just succeed—they exceeded expectations. The feedback, responsiveness, performance, sound, visibility, braking, stability… Everything is simply perfect.”
Power and Technology
Like the road-going T.50, this track car is equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.9-liter Cosworth V12 engine. However, it has been upgraded: it now produces 761 horsepower at 11,500 rpm and revs all the way to 12,100 rpm. To achieve this power, a new cylinder head was installed, camshafts were updated, and the compression ratio was increased to 15:1. A new air intake and a lightweight Inconel exhaust system were also added.
The updated V12 is paired with a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox. Significant aerodynamic improvements allow the car to generate up to 2,645 pounds (1,199 kg) of downforce. Only 25 units of this model will be produced, and all are already sold out.
The success of the T.50s prototype on the Bahrain track not only confirms its extreme performance but also challenges the traditional boundaries between production track cars and professional racing machines. Such results indicate that a focus on pure driving experience and mechanical connection with the car can lead to incredible outcomes, even without exaggerated electronic assistance systems. The limited run of 25 cars makes this model not only a technological masterpiece but also a future collectible rarity that is already writing its page in automotive history.