The 725hp, 1878 LB beast with greater down force has been named after a LEGEND

The Gordon Murray T.50S has been named after the Legend NIKKI LAUDA. Yesterday on his birthday, the T.50S was unveiled. Nikki Lauda was three times F1 champion.

Gordon Murray T.50S Nikki Lauda

The car's 725-hp naturally aspirated 3.9-liter V-12 revs to 12,100 rpm, in a car slated to weigh only 1878 pounds. Only 25 will be built, priced above $3 million (30+ Crore INR) and some 15 have already been spoken for.

When Gordon Murray shared early details about his track-only hypercar last year, he promised that the finished version would carry a "historically significant" name in addition to its T.50S model code. On that, he has absolutely delivered: the car is now to be known as the Niki Lauda, a tribute to the three-time Formula 1 champion who died in 2019 and who would have turned 72 today.

The Niki Lauda's finalized technical specifications have changed slightly since we first told you about the car, and they are set to make it one of the most extreme vehicles on the planet. GMA says it is on track to weigh just 1878 pounds—more than 200 pounds lighter than its roadgoing sibling revealed last summer, the T.50. Power will come from an even more highly tuned version of the T.50's naturally aspirated 3.9-liter V-12, making 725 horsepower and revving to a dizzying 12,100 rpm. Those figures mean that, as Murray puts it, this has got "the same power-to-weight ratio as the car that came second at Le Mans last year."

Gordon Murray T.50S Nikki Lauda

It's tempting to compare the T.50S to racing versions of Murray's other supercar legend, the McLaren F1, but Murray points out two clear distinctions. First, while the McLaren F1 GTR race car came about after the road-going car in response to customer requests, the T.50S was developed in tandem with the road car. And while the F1 GTR was developed with the ultimate goal of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the T.50S is mainly meant to be the ultimate track-day machine.

The car's carbon-fiber monocoque is lighter, thanks to thinner construction, and weight was shaved out of the body panels, all of which are unique to the track-only model. Further weight savings come from lighter magnesium wheels, lightened brakes, and a stripped-out interior. As it sits, the T.50S weighs 1878 pounds, giving it a power-to-weight ratio similar to that of a modern LMP1 car. It won't be slow.

Gordon Murray T.50S Nikki Lauda

Murray wants this track machine to be approachable, so everything from chassis setup to downforce level can be tailored to a driver's preference. GMA will offer a support program called Trackspeed for those who want a full crew to attend their T.50S track outings, but Murray says the car was designed to make track day adjustments simple and accessible. That's a contrast to other automakers' track-only toys, like the Ferrari FXX, which can only be kept at the factory and requires a full manufacturer-appointed crew for any track outings. Murray's no fan of that. Theoretically, you'll be able to load your T.50S on a trailer at home, bring it to the track, and run a full day of laps with no support crew, should you choose.

Gordon Murray T.50S Nikki Lauda

Only 25 examples of the T.50S will be built. Each will wear a unique chassis plate commemorating a significant Formula 1 victory from Murray's career. The first car recognizes Kyalami, 1974.

And of course, each T.50S will be a rolling tribute to Niki Lauda. "Right from the beginning, it was called T.50S, and I always said to the guys, 'That's just a working title, we'll think of something,'" Murray says. "After Niki passed on, I just thought, 'Wow.' He was a very good friend as well as a great racing driver, and we worked together for a couple of years. We really got on well and there's a lot of mutual respect there. I thought, what a lovely thing to do. So I got in touch with the [Lauda] family through Bernie Ecclestone and they thought it was a great idea."

Today would have been Lauda's 72nd birthday. By unveiling the T.50S today, GMA sought to pay tribute to the legendary racing driver. Judging by what we know about it, we suspect the T.50S Niki Lauda will wear its name with pride.

-By Amaan Attar (atmtechofficial)

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