McLaren honors Ayrton Senna with $21k limited edition scale model

McLaren has frequently mentioned Ayrton Senna in recent months as 2024 marks 30 years since the death of the F1 legend and Woking stable icon. A special edition with commemorative paint has now been transformed into a 1:8 scale model. While available for purchase, it's not straightforward.

Ayrton Senna is considered one of the most excellent drivers in Formula 1 history. The legendary Brazilian became a three-time world champion, but his career was tragically cut short by an accident at the Imola track. In 2024, it will be 30 years since Senna's passing, and McLaren, the team with which Ayrton won all his championship titles, has approached this anniversary with great seriousness.

During the Monaco Grand Prix of Formula 1, the British team debuted special paintwork, and drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showcased commemorative helmets. The manufacturer from Woking also prepared a series of "Senna 30" films and articles and unveiled a unique, one-of-a-kind version of its McLaren Senna model with equally stunning paintwork.

This doesn't mean you can't own a car with the Senna Sempre paintwork. You can, as long as you're satisfied with a 1:8 scale model. Your chances are better here, as only 30 pieces were made. McLaren kept one, and another was given to Senna's family. The remaining 28 copies went on regular sale.

The company Amalgam, which created the model, admits that it took specialists as many as 3,000 hours to develop the entire model, and assembling each piece required an additional 300 hours of work.

Each model consists of thousands of elements created with the help of 3D printing. You can be assured of the perfect replication of each part, as they were developed based on confidential data provided by McLaren. The creators should be acknowledged for their extraordinary work. In photos with a clean background, it's hard to tell if you're looking at a scale model or a real car.

The Senna Sempre paintwork has also been replicated with high accuracy. It features the colors of the Brazilian flag, which the three-time world champion wore on his helmet. Additionally, the car includes two likenesses of Ayrton and references to his dominance on the streets of Monaco, where he won six times, five of those victories with McLaren.

As you might expect, such a meticulously crafted model is not cheap. The exceptional McLaren Senna in 1:8 scale costs $21,385, including shipping costs. However, buyers will be paying for the faithful representation of the car, the minimal edition, and the unique paintwork that honors a motorsport icon.