Automakers competing in motorsport is nothing new. In fact, some nameplates have been doing it for so long, it's worthy of celebration. That's the case for the McLaren Artura 1000GP by MSO, a rare special edition built to commemorate McLaren Racing's 1,000th Formula 1 grand prix start, which will happen this weekend in Monaco. The 1000GP includes a handful of styling modifications relative to the regular Artura, which is powered by an electrified, boosted V6 with an eight-speed transmission – just like the MCL40 F1 car. A Special Achievement For A Special Brand McLaren's first entry into Formula 1 happened 60 years ago, also at the Monaco Grand Prix. Formed three years earlier by New Zealand racing driver and engineer Bruce McLaren, the eponymous firm has been competing in F1 ever since that 1966 Monaco GP, and it has earned 13 driver's championships and 10 constructor's championships (including taking both titles in the 2025 season). In order to commemorate those esteemed achievements, the McLaren Artura 1000GP makes use of a special, hand-applied livery that apes the design of the MCL40 F1 car that'll show up in Monaco this year.2026 McLaren Artura 100GP By MSO Exterior 1Starting with deep black paintwork, the 1000GP receives a unique front bonnet graphic with a digital houndstooth motif featuring the special edition's name, all in McLaren's signature Papaya orange colorway. The same contrasting color appears on the side skirts within the "1000GP" graphic, as well as on the brake calipers and the pinstripes appearing on the front and rear diffusers. Inside the car, there's also a plaque denoting its status as an MSO-designed special edition. The McLaren Artura 1000GP will be limited to exactly 10 units, each with an undisclosed price that'll surely be higher than the car's $233,000 base. Similarities Aren't Just Skin Deep McLarenIt's possible McLaren chose the entry-level Artura, rather than the pricier 750S or the flagship W1 Hypercar, because of its surprising similarities to the MCL40 F1 car. For starters, unlike any other roadgoing McLaren, the Artura is powered by a V6 engine, in this case a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter unit with a very wide 120-degree crank angle to give it a very low profile. The MCL40, meanwhile, gets motive force from a smaller 1.6-liter V6 with a single turbocharger. Still, no other McLaren models feature six-cylinders aside from the F1 car and the Artura.The compact engine design helps the Artura maintain rather dainty proportions, improving its center of gravity and polar moment of rotation for a nimble, agile design. Like the MCL40, the Artura also boasts some electrification, although it's a full plug-in hybrid instead of a kinetic energy recuperation system as on the race car. That means the Artura is capable of about 11 miles of all-electric range when you're feeling relaxed and absolutely bombastic performance when you're not.CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters Although it's far from the oldest grand prix constructor – Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati were all part of Formula 1's first beginnings in 1950, with other entrants like Mercedes-Benz joining in 1954 and Aston Maritn in 1959 – McLaren is only the second in history to achieve 1,000 racing starts. In that time, a McLaren has appeared on the top spot of the podium 203 times, giving the team an almost unbeaten win rate of over 20 percent. As an automaker, McLaren wouldn't have existed without its racing efforts. Each of the company's roadgoing automobiles, from the ASC/McLaren Pontiac Grand Prix to the F1 supercar (and then onto the Artura and 750S) benefitted from Formula 1 and Can-Am racing technology.Source: McLaren
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