Gordon Murray’s Le Mans GTR: A Longtail Love Letter to Endurance Racing
Gordon Murray is no stranger to building cars that define eras. From the Brabham BT46B “fan car” that shocked Formula One in 1978, to the McLaren F1 that remains one of the most celebrated road and race cars ever created, Murray has consistently shown an ability to balance radical engineering with timeless beauty. Now, with the newly revealed GMSV Le Mans GTR, he has come full circle, blending his legacy of race-winning longtails with the philosophy of his latest creations, the T.50 and T.50S Niki Lauda. What makes this new car special isn’t just that it’s rare, or powerful, or expensive—though it is all three. Rather, it is Murray’s direct homage to the endurance racing machines that shaped his early career and personal design taste. Just 24 examples will be built, a number symbolic of the 24 hours of Le Mans, and all are already spoken for. In many ways, this is the purest distillation of Gordon Murray’s automotive soul: a car that blends his love of longtail aerodynamics, naturally aspirated engines, and the intimate connection only a manual gearbox can deliver.
A Tribute to the Longtail Icons of History
When enthusiasts hear the term “longtail,” their minds often drift to legendary endurance machines like the Porsche 917LH, the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail, or even Alfa Romeo’s Tipo 33/3. These cars weren’t just extended in length for aesthetic purposes; they were shaped by necessity, engineered to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and stability over the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans. For Gordon Murray, who lived through this golden age of longtail racing, those designs left an indelible mark. He has often spoken of how their proportions balanced grace and purpose, merging art and science into a single silhouette. The Le Mans GTR is his modern-day ode to that philosophy. Its carbon-fiber body stretches beyond the compact forms of the T.50 and T.33, tapering into a graceful yet aggressive rear section that replaces the T.50’s iconic fan system. Instead, the airflow is sculpted by organic surfacing, a rising underbody, and a full-width rear wing that ties the profile together. The result is a car that doesn’t simply copy the past but reinterprets it through Murray’s modern toolkit, proving once again that elegance and engineering can coexist in the pursuit of speed.
Borrowing the Best from the T.50 and T.50S
The Le Mans GTR sits in an interesting middle ground between Murray’s two most recent masterpieces: the road-going T.50 and the track-focused T.50S Niki Lauda. It retains the road-legal usability and three-seat central driving position of the T.50 while adopting the aggressive stance, wider track, and sharpened aerodynamics of the T.50S. Underneath the sculpted bodywork lies the Cosworth-built 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V12, one of the most remarkable engines of the modern era. Producing 654 horsepower at a stratospheric 12,100 rpm, it is paired exclusively to a six-speed manual gearbox. This choice alone separates the Le Mans GTR from virtually every other modern hypercar, which rely on dual-clutch automatics and turbocharged torque for speed. Murray’s insistence on a manual isn’t nostalgia—it’s about control, rhythm, and intimacy between driver and machine. Nearly every other component, from the suspension mounting to the interior switchgear, has been reworked for this special model, demonstrating that despite its familiar mechanical base, the Le Mans GTR is essentially a brand-new car. It is not a variant or a trim package—it is Murray’s vision of the ultimate road-going endurance racer.
Aerodynamics as Functional Sculpture
For a designer who once put a fan on the back of a Formula One car, Gordon Murray’s decision to omit the fan from the Le Mans GTR might seem surprising. But the longtail format renders it unnecessary. By extending the rear bodywork and tapering it toward the rising diffuser, Murray achieves the same level of downforce and drag reduction through pure shaping rather than mechanical assistance. The aero package includes a deep front splitter, pronounced side skirts, a roof-mounted ram-air intake, and a massive rear wing that sits like a crown across the elongated tail. Functional vents up front and side-mounted intakes further enhance cooling and airflow efficiency. Together, these details create not only aerodynamic balance but also visual drama—the kind that calls back to the great longtail racers of the 1970s and 1990s. Murray has always maintained that the best cars are those where engineering necessity produces natural beauty. The Le Mans GTR is proof of that mantra, its lines flowing not from styling exercises but from the pursuit of stability at speed, efficiency in airflow, and harmony between body and chassis.
The Soul of the V12 and the Purity of a Manual
In an era where supercars chase ever-higher outputs with turbos, hybrid systems, and electric motors, Murray’s dedication to the naturally aspirated V12 feels almost rebellious. Built by Cosworth, this engine is a mechanical marvel. Its 12,100 rpm redline isn’t just a number—it’s a promise of operatic sound, instantaneous throttle response, and a visceral connection that few modern cars can match. What sets the Le Mans GTR apart from the T.50 is the focus on sound tuning and mechanical connection. The dual-exit exhaust has been specifically designed to produce a “deep and balanced” note, less shrill than the T.50 but more resonant for endurance-style character. Paired with the roof-mounted ram-air intake, the cabin becomes a chamber for induction roar, immersing the driver in an audio experience that no digital sound system could replicate. Then there’s the gearbox: a six-speed manual, engineered with perfect throws and weighting, reminding us why this transmission is still considered the purest link between human and machine. For Murray, removing the driver from the equation through paddles or computers is an unacceptable compromise. The Le Mans GTR isn’t just about going fast—it’s about savoring every moment along the way.
Interior Minimalism with a Racing Edge
The T.50 already set new standards for minimalist luxury in a driver’s car, and the Le Mans GTR builds upon that with a sharper, more purposeful interior. Renderings reveal new dials, unique switchgear, and reduced distractions, emphasizing only the essentials required for high-performance driving. Seating remains in the three-abreast format, with the driver perfectly centered—a layout that ensures balance, visibility, and an unmatched sense of command. Yet, unlike the stripped-out cockpits of many modern track specials, the Le Mans GTR does not sacrifice comfort entirely. Seat cushioning, pedal feel, and dashboard layout have been redesigned for clarity and usability, proving that even an ultra-rare longtail homage can remain habitable. The materials lean heavily on exposed carbon fiber, lightweight alloys, and functional fabrics, trading opulence for purpose. Still, the attention to detail ensures that every switch, knob, and surface feels bespoke, crafted not just for aesthetics but for tactile satisfaction. This blend of focus and refinement echoes Murray’s philosophy: every gram matters, every detail serves a function, and every aspect of the car should work in harmony to deliver the ultimate driving experience.
Exclusivity and the Collector’s Dream
In today’s world of limited-run hypercars, rarity is often manufactured for the sake of marketing. But in the case of the Le Mans GTR, the production cap of 24 units feels both symbolic and authentic. Each car represents one hour of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the race that inspired the very existence of this machine. This isn’t just clever branding—it’s a narrative that ties every example to a story of endurance, heritage, and victory. Buyers, who have already claimed all 24 cars, will have the opportunity to personalize their GTR to match their favorite longtail racer or express unique tastes through custom color palettes and materials. The price has not been disclosed, though given that the T.50 cost $3.5 million and the T.50S commanded even more, the Le Mans GTR almost certainly resides well into the multi-million-dollar range. Yet, for collectors, the price is secondary. What matters is the car’s story: Gordon Murray’s personal homage to his longtail heroes, built in vanishingly small numbers, powered by a manual V12, and imbued with the DNA of motorsport legends. It is, quite simply, the unicorn of unicorns.
Production, Legacy, and What Comes Next
Production of the Le Mans GTR will begin in 2026, marking the start of Gordon Murray Special Vehicles’ new “SV Design” pillar, which will focus on ultra-low-volume reinterpretations of GMA’s existing platforms. Alongside the GTR, the company also announced the S1 LM, a more accessible homage to the McLaren F1 GTR. But the Le Mans GTR is clearly the crown jewel, setting the tone for what the SV arm of Murray’s business intends to achieve: hyper-exclusive, historically inspired, driver-focused creations that no other manufacturer dares to build. For Murray, this is not just about cars—it is about creating rolling art pieces that tell stories, educate future generations, and remind the world of what driving should feel like. In a time when the automotive industry is hurtling toward electrification, autonomy, and digitalization, the Le Mans GTR stands defiantly as a mechanical masterpiece. It preserves the analog spirit of racing’s golden years while reimagining it for the modern road. More than just a supercar, it is a manifesto on wheels, a declaration that engineering brilliance and emotional connection must remain inseparable in the world of performance automobiles.
