Two McLaren Solus GTs shut down The Thermal Club.
There’s no denying that supercars and hypercars are engineered purely to give owners the closest experience to driving an actual racecar in a competitive setting. But what happens when a leading manufacturer teams up with its Formula 1 racing division to design a purpose-built, track-only hypercar for its clients? McLaren has perfected this forward-thinking approach for the weekend track warrior with its Solus GT, a limited-edition single-seater with a central closed cockpit and a fighter jet-style canopy. With recent on-track deliveries giving owners a chance to learn and operate their cars alongside a team of McLaren engineers, the O’Gara Coach and O’Gara Motorsport team set up a private two-day track session for two Solus GT examples at The Thermal Club.
Set on the picturesque backdrop of Southern California’s mountainous terrain, the McLaren hypercar pair was unloaded for some high-speed fun around The Thermal Club’s vast array of track layouts. As if things couldn’t get any more exciting with long straightaways and tight corners, both McLaren Solus GTs showed up sporting some oddly familiar race liveries.
The first Solus GT pays homage to double Formula 1 Champion Mike Häkkinen and the McLaren MP4/13 he piloted to secure the 1998 championship win. The specific example holds even more motorsport significance as Mika drove it at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2024. The second Solus GT featured during the private track event shows off the iconic Gulf Racing livery worn by Lando Norris and the McLaren Formula 1 Team during the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix. This Solus GT combines McLaren heritage with modern hypercar technology, from its legendary colorway to period-correct decals and even Lando’s racing number.
The McLaren Solus GT is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 that screams up to a wild 10,000 rpm redline, making it one of the most extreme engines McLaren has ever put in a car. It churns out over 830 horsepower and more than 479 lb-ft of torque, shooting the single-seat track monster from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds. The power is sent to the rear wheels through a motorsport-derived 7-speed sequential gearbox, giving it lightning-fast shifts. Weighing less than 2,200 pounds thanks to a carbon-fiber monocoque and aero-focused bodywork, the Solus GT delivers mind-bending grip, serious downforce, and an experience that’s as close to Le Mans as you can get without a racing license.
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