Gordon Murray Special Vehicles pays tribute to Le Mans victories with two new models

Gordon Murray Special Vehicles (GMSV) has announced two new models that pay tribute to the company founder’s Le Mans successes. The cars are the debut releases from the special operations department of Gordon Murray Automotive.

GMSV was set up to act as the conduit for one-offs, limited-run special editions and heritage-based Continuations, in order to allow the main GMA company to focus on production models. The first fruits of this labour represent both strands of this, beginning with the GMSV Le Mans GTR (main picture).

The Le Mans GTR is part of the SV Design programme, and it seeks inspiration not only from Murray’s longtail McLaren Le Mans cars, but also from other longtail cars from the 1970s to the 1990s. The Le Mans GTR uses the GMA V12 engine and six-speed manual transmission, but GMSV says everything else is new with the aim of creating a track-orientated car that can be enjoyed on the road.

The shape is set up for low drag, with the front splitter, side skirts and twin-channel rear diffuser generating ground effects without a need for the fan seen on the T.50 and T.50s. Instead it has a deep, full-width rear wing to glue the car the ground.

The Le Mans GTR’s suspension is stiffer and lighter, the track is wider and the Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres are larger. GMSV has improved cooling, too, with larger air vents at the front and a brace of side-pod intakes in front of the rear wheels to chill the engine and gearbox. There’s also a solid-mounting system that’s been developed by GMSV, which aims to remove the noise and vibration that’s often experienced with such systems.

Inside the Le Mans GTR, the aesthetic has been kept track focused, with an entirely new dashboard with fresh switches, dials, seat cushioning and pedal pads. Those lucky enough to get an allocation of the new car can choose from various heritage-based designs or else work with the in-house team to create something fresh.

Just 24 Le Mans GTRs are being built, in recognition of the Le Mans’s timeframe, and the first production machines are due for delivery in 2026. Working with Joe Macari, each GTR has already been sold at an undisclosed price.

“Longtail racing cars perfectly combine aerodynamic benefit and aesthetic balance. I’ve always loved their mix of considered engineering and flowing design,” says Murray. “Our Le Mans GTR timelessly reimagines the longtail racers I’ve admired since I began designing cars, adding contemporary aerodynamics and our exquisitely engineered chassis, engine and transmission.”

The second model to break cover is the GMSV S1 LM (pictured above), a custom-built commission inspired by Gordon’s 1990s designs and his 1995 Le Mans victory. The newcomer combines elements from the McLaren F1 GTR and LM machinery of that era, and incorporates high-downforce aerodynamic features from the race-winning car.

Design changes to the S1 LM include a front clam central aerofoil, roof-mounted air intake, split rear wing, circular twin rear brake and indicator lights, and a central quad exhaust. The car is built with a focus on performance and track use, using race-derived aerodynamics, reduced weight and a stiffer suspension with a solid-mounted engine. A racing front splitter and double-element rear wing maximise downforce for track and road driving, with the rear wing’s dual element allowing for a greater angle of attack than a single wing in the aid of greater downforce.

The S1 LM is powered by a 4.3-litre naturally aspirated V12 producing more than 700PS and revving to 12,100rpm, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The car has a large rear diffuser and a dual-element wing to increase aerodynamic efficiency.

The interior uses lightweight materials and has a functional, race-oriented layout. It is said to be an exploration of lightweighting concepts. Only five road-legal examples of the S1 LM will be produced, for a single client, with deliveries planned for 2026.

More details on the new cars from GMSV can be found here.