The first customer drive of Lanzante’s 95-59 XP prototype has taken place in the English countryside, marking a significant moment for the British engineering firm as development of its upcoming three-seat supercar that was revealed at Goodwood last year, moves forward.
For those unaware, Lanzante Limited, based in Petersfield, Hampshire, has built a reputation for transforming some of the most extreme track-only cars into street-legal machines. More recently, the company welcomed two Bugatti Bolide hypercars to its facility to begin the complex process of adapting the $4 million track-only machine for public roads. The Bolide joins a long list of Lanzante conversion projects that already includes the McLaren P1 GTR, as well as road-legal versions of the Pagani Zonda R, McLaren Senna GTR, and Porsche 935.
The 95-59 project carries particular significance for the company. Lanzante first teased the car in March 2025 before unveiling it publicly at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that July. Its name references one of the most famous moments in the company’s history.
In 1995, a black and silver McLaren F1 GTR wearing chassis number 59 secured overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car, entered by Lanzante and driven by Yannick Dalmas, Masanori Sekiya, and JJ Lehto, shocked the motorsport world by defeating purpose-built prototypes. Three decades later, the 95-59 aims to celebrate that achievement while translating the spirit of the F1 GTR into a modern road car.
Designed by former McLaren designer, Paul Howse, the same man behind the P1, 720S, and the limited-run Sabre, his work on the analog 95-59 carries clear motorsport influences, from its dramatic bodywork to the distinctive central driving position.
That layout places the driver in the middle of the cabin with passenger seats on either side, echoing the iconic configuration of the McLaren F1. The big highlight is the carbon tub and a curb weight of just 2,755 pounds, which in itself is very close to the F1’s 2,513-pound curb weight. It will be powered by McLaren’s familiar 4.0-liter V8 with 850 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque on offer.
Priced from £1.3 million ($1.77 million), only 59 examples will ever exist. The prototype undergoing testing also previews the car’s final appearance. The next public milestone arrives next month. The 95-59 will headline Lanzante’s presence at the Goodwood Road Racing Club Members’ Meeting, where the prototype is expected to make its first public track demonstration in front of enthusiasts and collectors.
Images: @lanzantelimited