Lanzante 95-59 : Thirty years after achieving one of motorsport’s greatest underdog victories, British specialist Lanzante has unveiled their most ambitious project yet: the 95-59, a bespoke three-seat supercar that pays homage to their legendary 1995 Le Mans triumph while pushing the boundaries of modern automotive engineering.
The Genesis of a Legend
The story behind the Lanzante 95-59 begins with one of the most remarkable victories in motorsport history. In 1995, the relatively unknown Lanzante racing team achieved the impossible by taking their McLaren F1 GTR number 59 to outright victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. This wasn’t just any win – it marked the first and only time a naturally aspirated engine would claim overall victory in the modern era of the race.
From Racing Heritage to Road Revolution
Dean Lanzante, the mastermind behind both the original Le Mans victory and this new supercar, explains the vision: “95-59 is the result of everything I personally and we, as a business, have learned and experienced over three decades since winning Le Mans.” The car represents not just a celebration of past glory, but a distillation of everything the Hampshire-based company has learned from three decades of creating extraordinary vehicles.
The name itself tells the story – ’95’ representing the year of their Le Mans triumph, and ’59’ honoring the race number of their victorious McLaren F1 GTR. This nomenclature also determines the production run, with exactly 59 examples planned for manufacture.
Engineering Excellence: Power and Performance
Heart of the Beast
At the core of the 95-59 lies a slightly tweaked version of McLaren’s familiar, robust and really rather energetic 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, here producing upwards of 850bhp and 650lb ft. This powerplant represents the pinnacle of naturally aspirated performance, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch SSG gearbox that sends all that power to the rear wheels.
The engineering team has achieved something remarkable with the power-to-weight ratio. Consider the target weight for the 95-59 is just 1,250kg, which delivers an astonishing 700 horsepower per tonne – a figure that puts it in direct competition with the most extreme hypercars on the market.
Lightweight Construction Philosophy
The pursuit of lightness extends throughout every aspect of the 95-59’s construction. The optional LM30 Pack takes weight reduction to obsessive levels, incorporating super-lightweight forged aluminum wheels, Inconel exhaust headers, titanium secondary pipes and tailpipes, titanium body fixings, and gold-plated heat-shielding throughout the engine bay and exhaust system. This comprehensive approach shaves approximately 20 kilograms from the already lean curb weight.
Design Philosophy: Form Follows Function
Paul Howse’s Vision
The exterior design comes from the gifted hands of Paul Howse, the renowned designer responsible for iconic McLarens including the P1, 570S, 720S, and Artura. Key to the design was controlling air flow to improve the aerodynamics, said Howse, which gives the car a “bullet-like” appearance from the side.
Aerodynamic Innovation
The sculpted carbon fiber body serves multiple purposes beyond mere aesthetics. Every curve and surface has been carefully considered to manage airflow, creating what Howse describes as a vehicle that builds its own legacy. The design philosophy centers on organic shapes and natural forms, resulting in a car that appears simultaneously aggressive and elegant.
The Three-Seat Revolution
The 95-59’s party piece is undoubtedly its seating arrangement. That’s right, this one’s a three-seater, just like the original McLaren F1. The central driving position places the pilot at the heart of the action, with passenger seats positioned slightly lower and integrated directly into the chassis structure.
This configuration isn’t merely a nostalgic nod to the McLaren F1 – it represents a fundamental reimagining of the supercar experience. The driver sits low in front of a relocated steering column, with dihedral doors providing access to this fighter jet-inspired cockpit.
Interior Innovation and Usability
Cockpit Design
The interior represents a masterclass in functional design. Glass roof panels flood the cabin with natural light, while the clean design philosophy relocates functional switch packs for easier entry and exit. Following aviation inspiration, switches are mounted in the roof pod, creating an environment that’s both practical and thrilling.
Grand Touring Capabilities
Unlike many track-focused supercars, the 95-59 has been designed with real-world usability in mind. It may be an homage to a Le Mans car, but the 95-59 has been designed for “extended cruising” and offers sufficient luggage space and a focus on ergonomics to make it a pleasant experience for the occupants.
The cargo area beneath the front clam provides space for multiple bags, ensuring that owners can use their £1.2 million investment for more than just weekend track sessions.
Technical Specifications and Platform
McLaren Foundation
The car is based on the McLaren-built Monocage carbonfibre chassis used by the P1, 720S and Senna, but it has been adapted by Lanzante to accommodate three seats. This proven platform provides the perfect foundation for Lanzante’s vision, offering exceptional rigidity and safety while allowing for the necessary modifications to achieve the central driving position.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 |
| Power Output | 850+ bhp |
| Torque | 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) |
| Transmission | 7-Speed SSG Dual-Clutch |
| Weight | 1,250 kg (target) |
| Power-to-Weight | 700 bhp/tonne |
| Seating | 3 seats (central driving position) |
| Production | 59 units |
| Price | £1,020,000 + tax (£1.2m total) |
The LM30 Package
The optional LM30 package represents the ultimate expression of the 95-59’s potential. Beyond the weight savings, this package includes an embossed map of the Circuit de la Sarthe on the central seat’s headrest – a subtle but meaningful tribute to the venue where Lanzante’s legend was born.
Market Position and Legacy
Exclusive Ownership
With production limited to just 59 examples and a price tag of £1.2 million including tax, the 95-59 occupies rarefied air in the automotive world. This exclusivity ensures that each owner becomes part of a very select group, bound together by their appreciation for both engineering excellence and motorsport heritage.
Competition and Context
The 95-59 enters a market where three-seat supercars have become increasingly rare and valuable. While McLaren themselves produced the Speedtail and Gordon Murray created the T.50 as spiritual successors to the F1, the 95-59 offers something unique – a direct connection to Le Mans history combined with modern McLaren engineering excellence.
The power-to-weight ratio of 700 bhp per tonne places it in elite company, bettering the original McLaren F1 by 158 bhp per tonne and coming within 39 bhp per tonne of Ferrari’s latest F80 hypercar.
The Future of Lanzante
The 95-59 represents more than just a celebratory exercise – it marks Lanzante’s evolution from a specialist modifier of existing supercars to a manufacturer of bespoke vehicles in their own right. This transition builds naturally on their established reputation for converting track-only hypercars for road use and creating special edition models.
Dean Lanzante’s vision for the 95-59 centers on creating vehicles that owners actually want to use. “The original brief of ‘Project 95-59’ was to create something accessible and useable, for drivers. Three seats, luggage space, enhanced range; something drivers could, and wanted, to use.”
The Driver’s Focus
This philosophy permeates every aspect of the 95-59’s design and engineering. Rather than creating another track-focused missile that spends most of its life in climate-controlled garages, Lanzante has crafted what they describe as “one of the most exciting modern-day drivers’ cars” – a machine that delivers incredible performance while remaining genuinely usable for real-world adventures.
The 95-59 stands as proof that the traditional supercar formula still has room for innovation and that sometimes the most revolutionary step forward is actually a carefully considered step back to fundamental principles of driver engagement and pure mechanical excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many Lanzante 95-59 models will be produced? A: Only 59 units will be manufactured, matching the race number of Lanzante’s winning 1995 Le Mans McLaren F1 GTR.
Q: What is the price of the Lanzante 95-59? A: The 95-59 costs £1,020,000 plus tax, bringing the total to approximately £1.2 million.
Q: What makes the 95-59’s seating arrangement special? A: It features a three-seat configuration with the driver positioned centrally, flanked by two passenger seats positioned slightly lower and integrated into the chassis.