McLaren ‘Senna 001’ Owner Goes On Epic 1,400km Drive Right After Picking Up Car

London-based businessman David Kyte, who happens to be the owner of the McLaren Senna chassis number 001, was officially handed the keys to his brand new ride earlier this week.

Following a few presentations by McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt and other McLaren Automotive and McLaren Special Operations senior executives at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK, David did something that most owners will never do – set out on a 1,400km road trip right after picking up the car.  

The ‘Senna 001’, which went straight to the south of France from Woking, was accompanied by five other McLaren cars (3 Sennas, a 720S, and a 600LT).

The convoy of supercars, whose drivers included racing driver and nephew of Ayrton Senna, Bruno Senna, McLaren Automotive’s COO Dr Jens Ludmann, and McLaren Ultimate Series Vehicle Line Director Andy Palmer, arrived at the Circuit Paul Ricard near Marseille, where David 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.”

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 a 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.

The ‘Senna 001’ is further personalised with individual references to the legendary Ayrton Senna, like his signature on the door shut, the years that he was F1 world champion engraved on the throttle pedal, and the layout of the Interlagos circuit in  Brazil with the McLaren badge marking the start/finish line on the front of the car.

The interior has also been enhanced by McLaren Special Operations with MSO Bespoke interior trim in black Alcantara, diamond-stitching on the seats, and a Senna ‘S’ logo embroidered on each headrest, all in Harissa Red. The keys are also in red-tinted carbon.

“I committed to buying a McLaren Senna as soon as I became aware that McLaren was developing the car – so long before the name was confirmed - but leaving the McLaren Technology Centre after the handover ceremony was the first time I have actually driven one,” explained David. 

“Now, with 1,400km covered, I’m delighted to report that as someone who rates driver engagement as crucial to driver enjoyment, the Senna has more than exceeded my expectations.”