I don't think any excuses need to be made for the LT.  It's the most track oriented model they make short of P1 track mode.  Who cares if based on MP4 from 2011....by that logic a 2016 GT3 RS is technically also based on a car that came out in MY2012 and therefore shouldn't be compared to other 2016 cars?  AWD can definitely be an advantage, but that's a design choice made by McLaren.