There could hardly have been a more fitting stage for the world dynamic debut of Gordon Murray Automotive’s latest creation than the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe. During the 2026 Le Mans Classic, the all-new Gordon Murray Le Mans GTR made its first public appearance in motion, with its screaming 12,100rpm Cosworth V12 echoing around one of motorsport’s most iconic circuits.
Finished in heritage racing green and piloted by three-time Le Mans winner Dario Franchitti, the experimental XP1 prototype completed demonstration laps down the Mulsanne Straight and through the Porsche Curves, giving spectators their first opportunity to witness the longtail-inspired supercar in action.
The Le Mans GTR is the latest expression of Professor Gordon Murray’s lifelong fascination with endurance racing. Drawing inspiration from the great longtail Le Mans racers of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s—including Murray’s own designs—the newcomer combines dramatic aerodynamic bodywork with a lightweight architecture centred around a naturally aspirated Cosworth V12 and a six-speed manual gearbox.
Unlike Gordon Murray Automotive’s existing road cars, almost every component has been re-engineered to create a machine that blends road-going usability with race-bred precision, placing driver engagement firmly at the heart of the experience.
Adding further significance to the occasion, Professor Gordon Murray was invited to wave the French tricolour to officially start the Le Mans Classic race after the demonstration had concluded.
“It was a great honour to start the Le Mans Classic race, an event that celebrates everything I have loved about endurance racing throughout my career,” Murray said. “My passion for longtail racing cars goes back decades, their blend of engineering purpose and aesthetic balance has always fascinated me. To see the Le Mans GTR, a car inspired by those machines, driving on this circuit for the first time was a very special moment.”
Production of the Le Mans GTR will be strictly limited to just 24 examples, and every car has already found an owner ahead of customer deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027.
A celebration of six decades of design
The Le Mans GTR wasn’t the only star of Gordon Murray Automotive’s demonstration. The company assembled an extraordinary collection of road and racing machinery spanning six decades of the legendary designer’s career. Joining the new flagship on track were the T.50, T.50s Niki Lauda and T.33 prototypes, alongside a trio of McLaren F1 GTR Shorttails, the 1972 Duckhams LM Ford, and a selection of iconic Brabham Formula One cars including the championship-winning BT49B.
For Franchitti, the opportunity to drive the Le Mans GTR at the circuit that inspired its creation was one he won’t forget.
“Driving the Le Mans GTR at Circuit de la Sarthe was an incredible experience,” he said. “The car has a real sense of purpose, inspired by endurance racing, yet it retains that signature Gordon Murray focus on the driver. Sharing that moment with the fans, alongside such an amazing selection of Gordon’s road and race cars, made it even more special.”
Next stop: Goodwood
The Le Mans Classic appearance is only the beginning for Gordon Murray Automotive’s latest V12 masterpiece. The company will head directly to the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the Le Mans GTR will tackle the famous Hillclimb alongside several other naturally aspirated V12-powered GMA models.
The debut also marks another milestone in Gordon Murray Automotive’s rapid evolution. Less than six years after unveiling the T.50, the company has now delivered all 100 customer examples worldwide, is continuing deliveries of the track-only T.50s Niki Lauda, and is progressing development of the T.33 and T.33 Spider.
With every one of the 24 Le Mans GTRs already spoken for, the spectacular longtail-inspired machine has cemented its status as one of the most exclusive, and arguably most exciting, naturally aspirated V12 supercars of the modern era before the first customer car has even been delivered.
