McLaren P1 GTR (edaldridge/Bigstock.com)

The unbridled, £1.98m McLaren P1 GTR is causing a lot of fuss. The very few people who own one will be receiving specialist training over the coming weeks – with good reason. The Christian Grays of this world will be zipping about in these beasts and trying not to crash. But they probably won’t be telling us normal folk about it.

And so it has been left to a handful of (very grateful) car journalists to tell the world just how insane this machine is.

The GTR version of the P1 differs from its road-legal forerunner in several important (and some say terrifying) ways. The original delivers 900bhp – an impressive figure by most standards, but there's a consensus that it has been limited in order to meet international emissions regulations. It must also come with tyres that last a decent amount of time, perform come rain or shine and provide a comfortable ride.

The GTR throws all that caution to the wind. It's quite simply a thoroughbred with one thing on its mind: speed.

Everything about this car has been tweaked for palm-sweating velocity. As well as generating an unrestricted 986bhp, the GTR has its rear wing set in the most aerodynamically beneficial position and any slicks fitted to the GTR can expect a brief life that ends smeared and burning across the tarmac. Even the windows are polycarbonate, just like a race car.

Given this unflinching focus on speed, it's safe to say that the special training days for P1 GTR owners are not just a gimmick. Like Ferrari's FXX programme, these training programs are necessary to ensure new owners actually live to tell their yacht-owing chums how fun their new car is.

There's only one mode on this car: race mode. It's as close to the ground as is practicable. All unnecessary weight has been stripped out.

The Telegraph's Andrew Frankel spoke of the "violence" of the GTR's acceleration, but also of the "demoralising" effect of the car's rapid deceleration. It hits 200mph on the straights, then loses that speed in an instant. Frankel also explained the curious effect of having more stability as the car gets faster.

Frankel must have been one of the few British car journalist to get behind the wheel of a GTR at McLaren's recent training session in Qatar – because he wrote another review of the GTR for AutoCar, too.

In the AutoCar write-up the GTR's tyres are highlighted as a key reason for delivering a performance-level that is significantly better than the P1; while reduced kerb weight and improved aerodynamics help a little, it’s apparently the bespoke Pirelli slicks that give the GTR much of its edge. This quartet of rubber rings is unencumbered by having to work in all weathers – or having to offer months or years of durability.

But how to deal with this speed? Mr F was almost disappointed by his first attempt in the car; did he have the skill or experience to give the GTR a fair hearing? After a second go, though, it seems all the information and training proffered to him by McLaren slotted into place, with the acceleration that initially made him feel like slicking the Qatari tarmac with his breakfast – becoming thoroughly manageable.

Here at startrescue.co.uk, we can’t wait for our invitation to try one out.

Price: £1.98 million

Engine: V8, 3799cc, twin-turbo, petrol with hybrid system

Power: 986bhp

Torque:  664lb ft + Gearbox 7-speed dual-clutch automatic;

Kerb weight: 1440kg

Top speed: 200mph +

0-62mph: under 2.8sec

Economy: NA

CO2 rating & BIK tax band: NA