Too often the world's finest supercars are destined to sit in secure lockups, hidden away from the world - but that's not the case with the first McLaren Senna.
The first customer McLaren Senna built, chassis number 001, was officially presented last week to its owner – who immediately set out to enjoy his new purchase on am epic 1,400km road trip, accompanied by five other McLarens.
Following the official hand over by McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK, 'Senna 001’ and new owner David Kyte departed for the south of France with three other McLaren Sennas, a McLaren 720S and a McLaren 600LT.
The convoy of supercars, whose drivers included racing driver and nephew of Ayrton Senna, Bruno Senna; McLaren Automotive COO, Dr Jens Ludmann and McLaren Ultimate Series Vehicle Line Director, Andy Palmer, set off from the UK for Circuit Paul Ricard near Marseille, France where Kyte joined more McLaren owners for a day of track driving.
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“I committed to buying a McLaren Senna as soon as I became aware that McLaren was developing the car – so long before the name was confirmed - but leaving the McLaren Technology Centre after the handover ceremony was the first time I have actually driven one,” said Kyte.
“Now, with 1,400km covered, I’m delighted to report that as someone who rates driver engagement as crucial to driver enjoyment, the Senna has more than exceeded my expectations.”
“Working with McLaren Special Operations on the bespoke design of the car was a fascinating experience; MSO has undertaken personalisation on other McLarens I own, but this was a much more complex project."
"The original inspiration for the livery was to trace the way that the air flows over the body but we decided on a more stylised design, with which I am absolutely delighted.
"I also love the fact that there are features on the car that are almost hidden, such as the details honouring Ayrton Senna and the McLaren ‘Speedy Kiwi’ on each side of what I am extremely proud to call, ‘my Senna’”.
Kyte's Senna features MSO Anniversary White base paint with special livery painted in MSO Aurora Blue. The bespoke build also features roof ‘snorkel’, T-Bar, Senna branded wing endplate and fuel filler cover in MSO Satin Visual Carbon Fibre; brake calipers painted in MSO Bespoke Burton Blue; and MSO Bespoke Coloured Centre Lock wheel nuts in Volcano Red. The custom paintwork took more than 600 hours to complete, two paint specialists devoting two weeks to ‘masking-up’ the car before the livery was applied.
‘Senna 001’ is further personalised with individual references to the legendary F1 driver the car is named after. Ayrton Senna's signature features on the door shut, the years that he was Formula 1 World Champion are engraved on the throttle pedal and the layout of the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo, Brazil – with the McLaren badge marking the start/finish line – is clearly visible on the front of the car.
The interior has also been enhanced by MSO with bespoke interior trim in black Alcantara complemented by diamond-stitching on the seats and a Senna ‘S’ logo embroidered on each headrest. The vehicle keys are also finished in red-tinted carbon.
“Handing over the key to the first customer McLaren Senna built was an honour for me and a milestone for the company,”said McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt.
“David Kyte is a longstanding McLaren enthusiast with a true passion for our brand and a number of McLarens to prove it. We have had many conversations about the car he has now taken delivery of and while I believe that the McLaren Senna is already incredible in every respect, the additional work that David has commissioned from McLaren Special Operations has taken ‘Senna 001’ to another level.”
