EDITORIAL

It's not often you get a racing car that's less powerful than its road–going brother, but that's what's happened with the latest McLaren GT3. Its twin–turbo V8 is restricted to a paltry 500PS, down from 600PS.

It's the old 'even playing field' principle, where disparate technical specs of front/rear/mid–engined cars with six–, eight– or 12–cylinder, turbo or naturally aspirated power units are evened out by the cunning rule–makers. There's always a beef, of course, as the diesel vs. petrol argument at Le Mans now demonstrates.

But I think it's a good idea, and greatly look forward to seeing the new contender from Woking on the track later this year.

And I'm also excited about the Mercedes–Benz SLS AMG Roadster. Yes, excited. Like its 1950s forebear, the open version of the 'Gullwing' looks an altogether different car; no less imposing and just as powerful–looking, but a little lither, more sporting perhaps.

And certainly pricier – but no less powerful, we trust. It's not as if it's a racing car.

Have your say! Take part in the Classic Driver reader survey...

Steve Wakefield
Managing Editor
sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

NEWS

McLaren MP4–12C: GT3 Car Unveiled

A £310,000 "race car of unrivalled quality" was revealed to the world's media today, 4 May 2011, when the British manufacturer took the wraps off a GT3 contender based on its stunning road car. read more...

AUCTIONS

Coys at Ascot, 14 May

A dazzling entry — in its original shade of Giallo Limone — heads Coys' forthcoming Ascot sale. It's a 1967 Iso Grifo, once owned by the charismatic British motorcycle and car racer Mike Hailwood. read more...

AUCTIONS

Bonhams 'Les Grandes Marques à Monaco', 20 May

As the only top house conducting a sale in the Principalité this May, it falls to Bonhams to provide the jet–set with suitable material to buy at auction while in Monaco for Grand Prix week. read more...

EVENTS

British Classic Car Meeting, St. Moritz — Austin–Healey 100S and E–types to Star

The 18th running of the annual British Classic Car Meeting (BCCM) in St. Moritz takes place from 8–10 July this year. read more...

NEWS

McLaren MP4–12C GT3: The Video

To coincide with the launch of its new GT3 car, McLaren has produced a short video of both road and race car on the track. read more...

NEWS

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale by Zagato

Zagato has followed its 2009 one–off TZ3 Corsa track car, which won the 2010 Villa d'Este Design Concept Award, with nine examples of the street–legal TZ3 Stradale. read more...

NEWS

2012 SLS AMG Roadster

There are still more than four months to go till the convertible SLS AMG Roadster is unveiled at September's Frankfurt motor show, but pictures have been released of a minimally disguised 2012 Roadster testing in Stuttgart. read more...

NEWS

Donington Historic Festival, 30 April and 1 May

It seems there is room in the calendar for yet another top–level historic race meeting; or so it would seem from chock–full grids, 38 car clubs and 12,000 people that flocked to the first ever Donington Historic Festival. read more...

NEWS

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 — the latest 'ultimate' 911

The latest 'ultimate' 911 has the naturally aspirated 500HP 4.0–litre flat–six engine from the GT3 RSR racing car, to give you a power–to–weight ratio of 368HP per tonne and 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. read more...

CLASSIC LIFE

Bentley Special Edition of 'Carte Blanche', the new James Bond book

"James Bond, now didn't he drive a...?" Not always — 'pay attention' if it makes you any happier — in many of the original Fleming stories 007 was a Bentley driver, and the new book by Jeffery Deaver features the latest Continental GT. read more...

Aston Martin Shotgun Under the Hammer

If your twin passions in life are shooting and Aston Martin motor cars, a visit to specialist gun auctioneer Holt's should certainly be on your agenda next month, when a unique Browning shotgun comes under the hammer. read more...

SERVICE

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