The McLaren Solus GT is a limited-run, single-seat track car derived from a virtual video game concept and powered by a naturally aspirated V10 with more than 830bhp.
Handed a public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Solus GT has been created with speed, downforce and lap records in mind - and it proved that by setting the pace in Goodwood's timed Sunday Shootout. With Marvin Kirchöfer at the wheel, the McLaren completed the hillclimb course in 45.345secs, an average of 149.1mph.
That was enough to comfortably beat extreme sports star Travis Pastrana, driving a heavily modified Subaru GL Family Huckster. The American completed his timed run in 46.37secs (130.0mph). Michael Lyons was third in a McLaren-Cosworth M26 F1 car.
2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed - highlights, report and gallery
The McLaren Solus features a striking carbonfibre cockpit-style design alongside wide-set, enclosed wheels and a huge rear wing. Built around a unique monocoque chassis, the car itself weighs less than 1000kg yet it produces 1200kg of downforce at full tilt.
The track machine was originally created in concept guise for the Gran Turismo Sport video game in 2017 and it has now been revealed in production form at Monterey Car Week in California.
The Solus GT is powered by a 5.2-litre V10 engine – a first for a McLaren customer car – which revs all the way to 10,000rpm and pushes out more than 830bhp and 479lb ft of torque.
The reserves of the motorsport-derived powerplant, created by an unnamed third party, are channelled through a bespoke seven-speed sequential gearbox and propel the car to 62mph from standing in 2.5sec. The top speed exceeds 200mph, according to McLaren.
The driver sits in a centrally mounted, enclosed cabin, which is accessed by a jet plane-type sliding canopy. Inside, a motorsport-style fixed seat awaits, created and moulded to suit the individual owner. A Formula 1-inspired carbonfibre steering wheel is also present, as is a digital rear-view display.
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Oh, by the way, the McMurty did a demo run, was at least ten seconds inside that time.
> beat extreme sports star Travis Pastrana, driving a heavily modified Subaru GL Family Huckster
Well that made me laugh. Second place is a family wagon.
And what will £75million do for Mcclaren?,ok, to your average person that's a lot of fish suppers!, but I the high end car World?