The McLaren P1 Owner programme has begun with teh first round at the Circuit de Catalunya, Spain

The world’s most exclusive McLaren owner experience has taken to the track for the first time at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain, as the debut McLaren P1™ Driver Programme event saw seven examples of the track-only model let loose. Each owner got behind the wheel of the most powerful model ever produced by McLaren, supported by a dedicated pitcrew, around the home of Formula 1™ in Spain.

The McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme is the ultra-exclusive ownership programme, offering specialist driver training, human performance and access to the McLaren racing simulator ahead of on track activity. This programme has been designed to prepare each driver mentally and physically to allow them to fully exploit the abilities of the McLaren P1™ GTR, which produces 1,000PS (986bhp) and runs on race-proven Pirelli slick tyres. 

The programme is completely bespoke, with each individual having a fully-tailored experience, working closely with a support team from McLaren Special Operations (MSO) comprising authentic professionals that have operated within the rarefied world of professional motor sport.

Paul Mackenzie, Executive Director of McLaren Special Operations explained: ‘The McLaren P1™ GTR has been a unique project, where the design and engineering teams were not limited to the restrictions of a roadcar or a set of race regulations. As a result, the car is a no compromise racer, focused on track performance.

‘The McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme takes this offering to another level, providing owners with a unique experience, designed around each individual. No two drivers are the same, and this programme is bespoke to each skill set, with our team of professional driver coaches, engineers and technicians working closely with the drivers, as they would in a top flight motorsport team. This ensures the programme is adjusted accordingly to allow for the best to be seen of each driver and each car.’

A dedicated team of driver coaches supported the activities on track, led by McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver, Chris Goodwin. The highly experienced team, each boasting a strong racing career, worked closely with each driver to achieve the best results. Goodwin explained: ‘The performance of each driver, and the improvements made over the course of the three days on track showed how effective the driver training programme in the build up to the event has been, and it proved to be a lot of fun! Every driver was close to the performance they showed on the simulator straight away, highlighting just how realistic the system is, and the bespoke nature of the programme, ensured each driver was engaged with the training at their individual levels.’

The effectiveness of the coaching and team support for the drivers was highlighted with two owners proving extremely competitive after recently announced Driver Mentor, Bruno Senna, set a benchmark laptime to work towards.

Goodwin added: ‘The driver coaches have a fantastic background in a range of sportscar, GT and single seater racing, and sharing this experience was invaluable and a real insight for our customers. As is the case with a race weekend, understanding and analysing data was crucial, and the bespoke nature of the Driver Programme worked to significantly improve each driver throughout the three days.

‘This first event gave the drivers the first taste of what the McLaren P1™ GTR can really do, and it has got each and every one of them hooked for the rest of the calendar. From here, we will visit some of the most exciting and challenging circuits around the world.’

Other locations on the debut McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme calendar include Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), Circuit of the Americas (North America), Silverstone (UK), Autodromo Nazionale Monza (Italy), Red Bull Ring (Austria), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Bahrain International Circuit (Bahrain) and Yas Marina (Abu Dhabi).

Caterham expands its race series into Malaysia, with the first race at the Iconic Sepang Circuit.

• Mixed grid of Supersport and 420R models lap Sepang International Circuit
• First ever standalone Caterham race series in Malaysia

British sportscar manufacturer, Caterham Cars, expanded its Caterham Racing series to Malaysia on Saturday, with a new championship starting at the iconic Sepang International Circuit. The inaugural event was won by 420R driver Adrian D’Silva and was the first race in a new 10-round series.

Caterham’s brand-new, standalone championship will feature up to 12 racers competing over five weekends at the twisty Sepang International Circuit and further strengthens Caterham’s position as a leading motorsport and performance engineering car manufacturer.

The racers, driving six Supersport and six 420R models, completed 10 laps of the track with Pye Tan Sen and Azman Yahya completing the podium places in second and third respectively.  

The Supersport class was won by Halim Mu’Azzam, ahead of Asian drift phenomenon Leona Chin, with rookie Sidqi Ahmad rounding out the top three.

The top three in both classes were all Malaysian drivers, though the grid includes drivers from Singapore and as far afield as Sri Lanka.

Caterham’s new series will use the full GP circuit, which is also used for the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix, is the first combined Supersport and 420R race series for Caterham.

The brand-new 420R model, launched in April 2015, is making its first appearance in a Caterham race championship in the Malaysian series.

While the Supersport is powered by Ford's 1.6-litre Sigma engine tuned to deliver 135bhp, the 420R uses a 2.0-litre Ford Duratec unit producing 210bhp.

Simon Lambert, Caterham’s Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer, said: “The Malaysian race series is a hugely exciting expansion for us, as it offers the opportunity for ASEAN race drivers to really experience the essence of Caterham Cars; an exhilarating racing experience ensuring the best value and fun for participants.”