The McMurtry Spéirling can hang in the air. Even if it's not moving. That's how much downforce the crazy car generates.
The electric car McMurtry Spéirling uses a fan to set a new record on the Top Gear track. And then it can stand still in the air. That is, with the bottom in the air.
The Stig is a short 14 seconds faster than the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
The electric car McMurtry Spéirling has set a new record. It happened on the famous Top Gear track at Dunsfold Aerodrome. Behind the wheel was The Stig.
The car is now the fastest car ever on the track, a record that highlights the potential of electric car technology combined with advanced aerodynamics.
The McMurtry Spéirling is an electric car built for track racing. It has only a single seat. The car is not approved for use on public roads.
The electric motor in the car produces 1,000 horsepower. At the same time, the car weighs only 1,000 kg. So there is the closest magic weight ratio of one horsepower per kilogram of car.
A special technology gives the car exceptional road grip. A system of fans creates a lot of downward pressure. This is also called downforce.
The fans generate 2000 kg of downforce. This happens even when the car is completely stationary. The high grip is the key to the car's speed in corners.
McMurtry Spéirling: A giant fan and a hell of a lot of downforce
The Stig completed the Top Gear course in 55.9 seconds, a significant improvement on the previous record. The course is 2.8 kilometres long.
The previous record holder was a Renault R24 Formula 1 car that lapped the track in 2004.
And although 21 years ago it was said that the Formula 1 car was extremely fast, the McMurtry Spéirling is just even faster.
The fastest street car on the track is the Aston Martin Valkyrie. It lapped in 1 minute and 9.6 seconds. McMurtry was almost 14 seconds faster.
The car's fan system allows for unusual maneuvers. McMurtry has demonstrated the car's capabilities. They drive the car up a ramp.
The platform on which the car was standing was then turned upside down. The car remained suspended on the inverted surface, demonstrating the great downforce from the fans.
The history of blower technology in motorsport
The technology of fans/blowers is not entirely new. It was used briefly in Formula 1 in 1978. A Brabham BT46 briefly used similar technology. And even successfully.
The car won a Grand Prix at Anderstorp by 34 seconds. But Swede Ronnie Peterson, who was killed that year, was reportedly unhappy.
The car was not officially banned but did not make any further laps. The technology was considered to provide too great an advantage.
Thomas Yates is the director of McMurtry. He was behind the wheel during the demonstration with the inverted platform.
McMurtry Spéirling shows the potential of electric supercars and advanced aerodynamics. However, it is not at all certain that electric supercars have any future.
Mate Rimac, who is known for building just such cars, said last year that his customers no longer want to pay for them. Read more about it here .
