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McLaren with a Special Button

STEVE Hurn Cars is a prestige dealer somewhere in the UK, its location not widely known because it arranges inspection of its stock only by appointment.

Not surprising, since it stocks some hotshot machinery, the current top-of-the pops a McLaren P1 that belongs to 2009 World Formula One champion Jenson Button, so it’s clearly there on consignment.

It’s a very rare McLaren too, one of just 374 built, and Button had it upgraded with a whole lot of optional gear, making it unique.

Extra bits from McLaren Special Operations include carbon-fibre mirrors and arms, lightweight forged wheels, carbon ceramic brakes with yellow calipers, front and rear parking sensors, a Stealth pack and cadmium yellow contrast stitching as part of the MSO interior.

It has a Meridian sound system, a vehicle tracking system, and one final MSO option — Track Mode 2.

That last option alone cost $37,000 and adds software to place the hypercar in a road-legal version of Race Mode. After all, let’s not forget this P1 was, and still is an F1 driver’s car.

Even the colour has an exotic ring to it: Grauschwartz Grey.

The affable Mr Button won the 2009 F1 World Championship driving for Brawn GP, which racing pundits might recall used to be a Honda outfit until Ross Brawn bought it and redeveloped the car with Mercedes power.

So why is he selling this beauty, which has less than 900km on its odometer?

He used Instagram to announce: “I’ve decided to put my McLaren P1 up for sale so that someone else can enjoy her.

“It’s a tough decision but living in America I don’t really get the chance to drive this beauty.

“I did give her a final blast up to Silverstone for WEC last month though!”

A P1 generates 665kW via its twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 which is paired with an electric-motor hybrid system. The hypercar debuted in 2013, priced from $1.6m.

Now, while most exotic cars usually suffer a big drop in value when they’re still relatively new, such is not the case with Button’s McLaren.

He’s asking $2.91 million.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind hypercar that’s been owned and driven by the 2009 F1 world champion,” Steve Hurn says.

Well, you can’t buy one new, and this one comes with a bunch of extras, barely anything on its odo and a short, but good history, so it’s probably a great investment.

If it’s your cup of Darjeeling, look up Steve Hurn Cars, fill in the details and he’ll be in touch.

CHECKOUT: Button nails lap record in Hungary

CHECKOUT: Jenson Button leads Honda’s track attack

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