“Flies” at a speed of 252 kilometers per hour in the “Spanish” McLaren that triumphs in Europe

Five days have passed and the writer of these words is still suffering from cervical pain. Given the lack of experience and physical condition needed to endure something like this: traveling at 252 km/h in McLaren Artura With what Spanish teamThe only one in the competition, Won the 2023 McLaren Cup in Europe. A combination of adrenaline and stress. In every curve and in every acceleration Gonzalo de Andres. The steering wheel couldn’t be in better hands.

Gonzalo and 17-year-old Tommy Pintos, the two Spanish drivers for McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport Who have just been declared champions of the competition. It is the team that imposed itself with the car Made in the United Kingdom To nearly a dozen teams from the UK and other European countries. They celebrate and allow the target to recognize this champion supercar at the Jarama Circuit in full force. In a total of nine races Andres and Pintos took five wins, nine pole positions and nine podium finishes.

“To pray A team of Spanish people And I hit you for the first time, With a truly British car… Victory had an extra point in that sense,” joked a group of sports journalists in the team box. They describe it as having managed to avenge the invincible Armada, but at the wheel of a McLaren with Power 585 hp Which has a specific Aerokit with which it can be faster on a straight line and more agile in corners than the Artura GT4. We notice that When passing directly through the jarama during the test. The car as you can see in the video Its speed reaches 252 km/h With Gonzalo de Andres behind the wheel at the Madrid circuit.

McLaren Museum

If during the video you notice that the car’s windows are dirty, there is an explanation. As the first McLaren European Cup champion, Artura No. 7 Led by Gonzalo de Andres and Tommy Pintos He will travel to the Joe Ramirez Museum in Chelsea in 1979 where It will be preserved with dirt from his last race and remains of his title celebration For the enjoyment of all visitors.

The Spanish team, resulting from the union between McLaren Barcelona, ​​Chelsea 1979 (official distributor of the brand in Spain, Portugal and Andorra) and SMC Motorsport, has shone its own light with the new McLaren Artura Cup after the successes it achieved with the McLaren 570S GT4 in 2021 and 2022.

Before joining 2023 champion McLaren Artura, the young driver Tommy Pintos He explained to us in detail the operation and function of the dozens of controls on this supercar on the steering wheel. The Artura Cup also debuts a new carbon bodywork called the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, which is designed and manufactured directly at the McLaren Composites Technology Center (MCTC). In addition, a modified exhaust system reduces the weight of the kit.

The team explains to us that this weight reduction gives the Artura Trophy extremely precise riding characteristics and extreme accessibility to offer the perfect compromise for both professional and amateur riders. The Artura Trophy’s increased power and improved aerodynamics significantly reduce lap time and make it an ideal stepping stone between GT4 and GT3.

Pilots

Tommy Pintos has consolidated his position as jThe young promise of Spanish motorsport at 17 years old. After his professional training in Spain in the karting or autocross categories and the surprise in his debut in Ginetta Junior in 2020 as one of the best teams. JuniorsPintos finished the 2022 season in third place in the GT4 Supercars South European Series with several podium finishes that helped McLaren Barcelona-SMC Motorsport win the team title.

According to the team, this season, against more experienced drivers, Pintos has shown speed and consistency in different situations, and has stood out largely due to his age and maturity behind the wheel to add the McLaren European Cup title to his performances.

For this part, Gonzalo de Andreswith An award-winning sporting career in touring cars, is facing his third season in the Gran Turismo category after winning the team title in the GT4 Supercars South European Series in 2022. Now, the Madrid native adds to the McLaren Trophy Europe drivers’ title, proving himself as a great asset thanks to his title. -The speed of the course and its effectiveness in every task. Gonzalo bids farewell to the “Goal” in Jarama, and very much asks us to send our regards to his friend and also collaborator of this newspaper, Nacho Peña.