McLaren Motorsport has unveiled the Artura Trophy EVO, a groundbreaking addition to the McLaren Trophy series set to redefine performance and excitement from the 2025 season. Building on the success of the Artura Spider and coupe, this latest iteration promises enhanced power, grip, and driver engagement, alongside the introduction of a new Pro category and the McLaren Trophy Academy Programme.
Enhanced Performance and Aggressive Design
The Artura Trophy EVO elevates the unrestricted power of its predecessor with a significant boost. The 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine now delivers up to 620PS with the activation of a ‘Push to Pass’ button, up from the previous 585PS. This feature will be regulated to add strategic depth to the competition.
Visually, the Artura Trophy EVO distinguishes itself with a more aggressive design, featuring wider tyres and an updated aerodynamic profile. The revised front bumper and bonnet outlet enhance brake and engine cooling, while the widened wheelarches accommodate 285 section tyres at the front and 315 at the rear. These changes are complemented by new uprights, adjustable dampers, and stiffer anti-roll bars for improved handling and adjustability.
Enhanced Cooling and Durability
The rear of the Artura Trophy EVO boasts prominent buttress scoops to improve brake cooling and new billet uprights for better brake feel and durability. These modifications contribute to the car’s increased traction and stability, providing drivers with greater confidence and more exhilarating racing experiences.
Bespoke Racing and Upgrades
The Artura Trophy EVO will be built as a bespoke racing car from production line models, with existing Artura GT4 or Artura Trophy owners having the option to upgrade to the EVO specification. This ensures that the Artura Trophy EVO is a true one-make racing machine for the McLaren Trophy championships.
New Pro Category and McLaren Trophy Academy
The introduction of the Pro category in both the McLaren Trophy Europe and America championships aims to nurture professional drivers aspiring to careers in GT racing. Silver solo drivers and Silver/Silver pairings are eligible, with all Silver class drivers aged 26 or under automatically enrolled in the McLaren Trophy Academy. This development programme will offer workshops on driving skills, motorsport engineering, and media training, providing a pathway to the McLaren Factory Driver programme. Champions of the Pro category will earn a place in the McLaren Young Driver Shoot Out, with the winner potentially joining the McLaren Factory Driver team.
Expanding Horizons
Since its inception in Europe in 2023, the McLaren Trophy has expanded to North America, running parallel championships on both continents. This expansion reflects McLaren’s commitment to nurturing talent and broadening its presence in international GT racing, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA. Notably, Brendan Iribe, a McLaren one-make championship debutant, recently achieved his dream of racing a McLaren GT3 EVO at Le Mans.
Mick McDonagh, Director of MSO and Motorsport at McLaren Automotive, commented, “The Artura Trophy EVO is a stunning evolution of our McLaren Trophy product. Designed with input from teams and drivers, it promises spectacular performance and thrilling racing. With the introduction of the new Pro category and McLaren Trophy Academy, and the expansion to North America, the opportunities for our drivers have never been better.”
The Artura Trophy EVO is set to ignite excitement and elevate the standard of racing in the McLaren Trophy series, making the 2025 season one to look forward to.
