McLaren can give P1 GTRs retro liveries

A few weeks ago, McLaren released a short video of its new track monster - the P1 GTR - dulling with its F1 forefather around Cadwell Park. If you haven't seen it, click this link and take five - it's worth it.

Aside from the whoomping turbos and flames (lots of flames), what caught our attention was the retro paintjob the 986bhp track-only hyper-hybrid was cloaked in. It's a throwback to the Harrods glad rags its predecessor - one of seven McLaren F1s that competed at Le Mans in 1995 - wore to the famous 24-hour race. Put simply, it looks cracking.

And, after some deeper investigation, McLaren has confirmed to TopGear.com that if you stump up the two million quid to be part of the P1 GTR programme, you too can paint your new track toy in whatever colour or livery you want. This means any retro livery is up for grabs.

Once you've transferred a small-to-medium size country's GDP into Big Ron's bank account, you get a private consultation with McLaren Design Director, Frank Stephenson where you discuss with the design team how you'd like your car painted. We're told nothing is off limits, so if you want to have a modern version of one of the heritage liveries from the past, they'll happily knock something up for you so you look the bees knees at one of the six events held in the first P1 GTR ‘season', which starts at Circuit de Catalunya, Spain. Oh, and as part of the GTR ownership package, you'll also have a bespoke seat, tailor-made helmet and a race suit fitted up, too.

This got us thinking, what retro paintjob would you choose? To make your decision easier, and to see what they'd actually look like on the wider, lower, massively-winged P1, we enlisted the help of digital drawing doyen Jon Sibal.

Jon's mocked up some of the legendary paint schemes from McLaren's glory days in the nineties and the results are utterly fantastic. But what's your favourite? Let us know below.

But as a word of warning, an insider at McLaren has told us that the P1 GTR is essentially sold out. There are only a few customers left to see the car and make a decision, while the rest of the lucky 30 are currently trucking the hefty wedge needed to own one down to Woking. So if you really, really want a retro-clad monster, you better be quick.

Pictures: Jon Sibal