The Gentleman Magazine Issue 10 | August 2018 | Page 26

McLAREN SENNA 001 TAKES THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP
The first customer McLaren Senna built, which carries chassis
number 001, was officially presented to its owner, London-
based businessman, David Kyte – who immediately set out to
enjoy his new purchase on a 1,400km ‘road trip’, accompanied
by five other McLaren cars.
Following the presentation by McLaren CEO, Mike Flewitt and
other McLaren Automotive and McLaren Special Operations
senior executives, which took place at the McLaren Technology
Centre in Woking, UK, ‘Senna 001’ departed for the south of
France with three other McLaren Sennas, a McLaren 720S
and a McLaren 600LT. The convoy of supercars, whose drivers
included racing driver and nephew of Ayrton Senna, Bruno
Senna; McLaren Automotive Chief Operating Officer, Dr Jens
Ludmann and McLaren Ultimate Series Vehicle Line Director,
Andy Palmer, has now arrived at the Circuit Paul Ricard near
Marseille, where Mr Kyte will join a Pure McLaren driving
experience taking place this weekend.
“Handing over the key to the first customer McLaren Senna
built was an honour for me and a milestone for the company,”
commented McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt. “David
Kyte is a longstanding McLaren enthusiast with a true passion
for our brand and a number of McLarens to prove it. We
have had many conversations about the car he has now taken
delivery of and while I believe that the McLaren Senna is
already incredible in every respect, the additional work that
David has commissioned from McLaren Special Operations
has taken ‘Senna 001’ to another level.”
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Finished in MSO Anniversary White with striking livery
painted in MSO Aurora Blue and the Senna brand displayed
on the wing endplate, the bespoke McLaren Senna also features
roof ‘snorkel’, T-Bar and fuel filler cover in MSO Satin Visual
Carbon Fibre; brake calipers painted in MSO Bespoke Burton
Blue; and MSO Bespoke Coloured Centre Lock wheel nuts
in Volcano Red. The paintwork alone took more than 600
hours to complete, two paint specialists devoting two weeks to
‘masking-up’ the car before the livery was applied.
‘Senna 001’ is further personalised with individual references
to the legendary Ayrton Senna: his signature is on the door
shut, the years that he was Formula One World Champion are
engraved on the throttle pedal and the layout of the Interlagos
circuit in São Paulo, Brazil – with the McLaren badge marking
the start/finish line – is clearly visible on the front of the car.
The interior has also been enhanced by McLaren Special
Operations to Mr Kyte’s requirements, with MSO Bespoke
interior trim in black Alcantara® complemented by diamond-
stitching on the seats and a Senna ‘S’ logo embroidered on
each headrest, all in Harissa Red. Black carpet with Harissa
Red Alcantara® piping and decorative stitch, Volcano Red door
struts and red-tinted carbon fibre control surrounds complete
the personalisation. The vehicle keys are also in red-tinted
carbon.
, Security in Motion”