McLaren 720S GT3X video review: new £750k special edition driven

A no-holds-barred, track-only take on the 720S gets taken to the limit on circuit

What is the McLaren 720S GT3X? Essentially it’s a racing car that can’t race. It’s also arguably the fastest GT3 car on the planet. How so? Well, McLaren’s motorsport minds decided to see what it would be like if they took their successful 720S racer and turned the wick up - a lot - to create one of the quickest trackday weapons a substantial amount of money can buy.

To do this, they dumped the FIA specification, power restricted 500bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 and dropped in a 710bhp version that could be boosted to 740bhp at the touch of a button with a push-to-pass system. That’s not all. Because this is intended as a track day car, McLaren modified the rollcage and carbon tub to accept a passenger seat - for a brave friend or, more likely, an instructor. 

The rest of the car is pure GT3 racer, right down to the outrageous-looking aero, track-honed suspension and slick tyres. There’s also multi-stage operation for the traction control and ABS brakes.

Just 15 of these special machines will be built, each costing a very cool £750,000. That’s a lot of cash, so is the McLaren worth it. Our man James Disdale was strapped in for a few quick(ish) laps of the Navarra circuit in Spain to find out.

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