Gordon Murray T.50s Destroys GT3 Times
The ultra-light, track-focused Gordon Murray T.50s just beat GT3 race cars by seven seconds, cementing it as one of the fastest production track vehicles ever built. This performance gap showcases the T.50s' extreme engineering approach to weight reduction and aerodynamics.
The track-focused car is officially named the T.50s Niki Lauda, a tribute to the three-time F1 champion who was a former Brabham teammate of the car's designer, Gordon Murray. Lauda is also the only driver to have won a Grand Prix in Murray's infamous "fan car," the Brabham BT46B, which inspired the T.50s' aerodynamics. At its heart is a bespoke, naturally aspirated 3.9-liter Cosworth V12 engine that produces 761 horsepower and revs to a staggering 12,100 rpm. The engine is a heavily redesigned version of the one in the road-going T.50, with dozens of components changed to save weight and increase power. The T.50s Niki Lauda weighs just 1,878 pounds (852 kg), making it more than 200 pounds lighter than the already featherweight road car. This is paired with extreme aerodynamics, including a massive rear delta wing and a 400mm fan that helps generate up to 2,645 pounds (1,200 kg) of downforce. The record-setting lap was driven by four-time IndyCar World Champion and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti. He piloted the T.50s around the Bahrain International Circuit, reaching speeds of 184 mph and experiencing 2.7 Gs of lateral force in high-speed corners. Only 25 examples of the T.50s Niki Lauda are being produced, each with a price tag of £3.1 million (approximately $4.3 million) before taxes. Production is scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2026. Each of the 25 chassis is individually named after a grand prix victory achieved by one of Gordon Murray's Formula 1 cars. The first car is named "Kyalami 1974" to commemorate Murray's first F1 win in South Africa.
