Race and classic pictures

McLaren teases secretive new 'hyper GT'

It's more a tease than a picture, but McLaren announced yesterday the genesis of the 'Speedtail', the automotive company's fastest ever hyper car.

The name - "evocative of a peak speed higher than any McLaren yet" - sounds like a sleek and striking classic design from the 1930s.

The Speedtail will apparently feature a three-seater cabin, where the driver sits in the middle, just like the iconic Gordon Murray-designed McLaren M1 from 1993.

Details of the new 'hyper GT' are scarce for now, but the car is expected to be powered by a hybrid version of the McLaren Senna's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine.

As McLaren says, "all will be revealed in October 2018". We can't wait…

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.