Gordon Murray T.50S Destroys GT3 Record
The Gordon Murray T.50S has shattered the GT3 car lap record at Bahrain International Circuit by seven seconds — a remarkable feat for the $3 million, track-focused supercar. Legendary driver Dario Franchitti signed off on the T.50S after this performance, underscoring the car's purity and engineering prowess.
The T.50S, officially named the "Niki Lauda," is a track-only variant of the T.50 supercar, with its production strictly limited to 25 units. Each chassis will be named after one of Niki Lauda's 25 Formula 1 victories, a tribute to the three-time World Champion who famously won the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix in Gordon Murray's Brabham BT46B "fan car." Weighing a mere 852 kilograms (1,878 pounds), the T.50S is powered by a naturally aspirated 3.9-liter Cosworth V12 engine that produces up to 725 horsepower thanks to a roof-mounted RAM induction airbox. The engine's redline is a staggering 12,100 rpm, and its power-to-weight ratio surpasses that of a naturally aspirated LMP1 race car. Unlike the road-going T.50, which features a manual gearbox, the T.50S utilizes a six-speed paddle-shift transmission for faster on-track performance. The car's aerodynamics are dominated by a massive rear wing and a 400mm fan that helps generate up to 1,200 kilograms (2,645 pounds) of downforce, effectively sucking the car to the pavement. The record-breaking lap of 1:53.03 at the Bahrain International Circuit was set during the final day of a three-day production approval test. For comparison, the previous fastest GT3 lap at the circuit was 2:00.675, set by a McLaren 720S GT3. During the record run, the T.50S reached a top speed of 184 mph and subjected driver Dario Franchitti to 2.7g in cornering and 3g under braking.
