Some numbers carry their own weight. One thousand is one of them. As McLaren Racing prepares for its 1,000th Formula 1 Grand Prix start at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, the brand has chosen to mark the occasion in the most fitting way possible, with an extraordinarily rare road car. Meet the McLaren Artura 1000GP by MSO.

A Milestone 60 Years in the Making

This is a genuinely historic moment. When McLaren lines up at Monaco for the race on 7 June 2026, it will become only the second team in Formula 1 history to reach 1,000 Grand Prix starts. And there is a beautiful symmetry to where it happens. McLaren's very first Grand Prix took place at Monaco in 1966, when founder Bruce McLaren entered as the team's sole driver. Sixty years later, the team returns to the same streets to celebrate start number 1,000.

The story began in 1963, when Bruce McLaren founded his own team with a small crew and a simple philosophy: move quickly, work closely, and build better. That mindset has carried the team to 10 Constructors' Championships, 13 Drivers' Championships, and more than 200 race wins. The anniversary MCL40, driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, will wear a special livery in Monaco, and Bruce McLaren's original M2B will even join it on the grid for a commemorative moment.

What Makes the Artura 1000GP Special

This is where exclusivity reaches another level. The Artura 1000GP has been curated by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), and it is strictly limited to just 10 client cars worldwide. Buyers can choose from 12 bespoke colourways, making each example effectively unique.

The exterior takes direct inspiration from the MCL40 race car. MSO's craftspeople hand-apply the distinctive 1000GP graphic across the bonnet, lower body sides, and wing mirror casings. Contrasting pinstripe detailing runs along the front splitter and rear diffuser, a nod to McLaren's heritage racing liveries. Inside, the celebration continues with bespoke embroidered Alcantara and a numbered dedication plaque finished in a special Metallic Papaya Gold. These cars are not sold off a forecourt; allocation is handled directly through McLaren retailers and reserved for only a select few.

The Hardware Beneath the Livery

Mechanically, the Artura 1000GP is identical to the standard Artura, and that is no bad thing. At its heart sits a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 paired with an electric motor and a 7.4 kWh battery pack. The combined output is 690 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque. That is enough to launch the car from 0–62 mph in just 3.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 205 mph. It can also travel around 21 miles on electric power alone.

There is a clever logic to McLaren choosing the Artura for this tribute rather than a pricier model. The Artura is the only road-going McLaren powered by a V6, just like the MCL40 Formula 1 car. The connection between road and race could not be more direct. While the standard Artura starts at around $249,000, the price of the 1000GP remains undisclosed, though its rarity suggests a figure considerably higher.

At F1rst Motors, this is exactly the kind of machine that defines true collectibility. With only 10 examples destined for the entire world, the Artura 1000GP is the sort of car that rarely appears on the open market, and when it does, in a region like the UAE, where McLaren enjoys an especially devoted following, it commands serious attention. One thousand races, distilled into ten very special cars.