Gordon Murray’s S1 LM Unveiled at Monterey Car Week, is Modern Echo of the McLaren F1 GTR

Thirty years ago the McLaren F1 GTR won the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race it wasn’t even designed to enter. Gordon Murray the mastermind behind that car had designed the F1 as the ultimate road car but a few persistent customers and a bit of racing magic turned it into a legend. Fast forward to 2025, and Murray’s back with the S1 LM, a road legal supercar that channels the spirit of that Le Mans win.

Start with the heart of the S1 LM: a 4.3 liter naturally aspirated V12 built by Cosworth and derived from the T.50’s 4.0 liter unit. This engine isn’t just a powerplant it’s a mechanical symphony that screams past 12,100 rpm and delivers over 690 horsepower to the rear wheels. Murray’s team didn’t stop at boring out the engine they fitted lighter internals and a higher compression ratio so every rev feels like a direct line to the 1995 Le Mans grid. Paired with a six speed manual gearbox which combines the T.50’s internals with the T.50s’s casing the shifts are described as short and precise like a rifle bolt snapping into place. The exhaust crafted from Inconel and wrapped in 18-karat gold foil for heat shielding mirrors the F1’s opulent engineering while amplifying the V12’s howl into something that could wake a sleeping racetrack.

Visually, the S1 LM is a time machine with a modern twist. Every carbon fiber panel is bespoke shaped to evoke the F1 GTR, while slim LED headlights sit under covers that mimic the F1’s larger lamps a subtle nod to the original’s rounded gaze. The front splitter is deep and aggressive and works with a massive rear diffuser and a dual plane fixed wing to generate serious downforce so the car sticks to the road like it’s chasing a chequered flag. The side vents, roof mounted air scoop and five spoke wheels echo the F1 GTR’s lines but are refined with smoother surfaces and sharper angles. The rear with its four round taillights framed by neon sunset slats and a quad exhaust feels like an homage to the 1990s, but is unmistakably modern.

The S1 LM cabin is all about Murray’s obsession with lightweight design and driver focus. The three seat layout with the driver in the middle like a fighter pilot is straight from the F1 and T.50 playbook. Its exposed carbon and a “skeletal architecture” prioritizes function over form. The steering wheel is airbag free and has integrated controls and looks like it belongs in a 90s racecar. The dashboard has a quilted pattern and pill shaped vents for a bit of flair. A central tachometer flanked by two screens dominates the drivers view with a 30th anniversary badge to the F1 GTR’s 1995 win. The drivers seat has aggressive bolsters and quilted leather (or tartan in one variant) and cradles you for high speed runs.

Weighing around 950kg, thanks to its featherlight carbon fibre construction, it has a power to weight ratio that puts most modern hypercars to shame. The suspension is stiffer as well as lighter than the T.50’s and uses unique geometry and dampers to sharpen the handling without sacrificing road usability. Wider tracks and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires keep it planted and the aero package (splitter, wing, diffuser) delivers downforce so high speed corners feel like a Sunday stroll. Deliveries start in 2026 and all five are spoken for so this is exclusivity on a level most can only dream of.