The McMurtry Spéirling has so much downforce that it can drive inverted. The all-electric single-seater hypercar has demonstrated the power of its fan system on a purpose-built rig that can flip the Spéirling upside down. Thanks to its ability to produce 4400 lbs of downforce, the car remains glued to the rig’s platform even when it’s rotated through 180 degrees.
‘Driven’ by co-founder Thomas Yates with the Spéirling’s Downforce-on-Demand System on full boost, the stunt is a powerful demonstration of the car’s aerodynamic performance.
“This demonstration was an exciting proof of concept using a small purpose-built rig, but is perhaps just the beginning of what’s possible,” says co-founder Thomas Yates. “With a longer inverted track or a suitable tunnel, we may be able to drive even further! Huge congratulations and thanks to the entire McMurtry Automotive team, especially the engineers involved in the car and fan system’s design, they are the heroes of today.”
The Spéirling can deploy its fans to rocket-launch to 60 mph in just 1.5 seconds and also provide incredible cornering capability. In the past, that’s been proven by smashing records at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Laguna Seca Corkscrew Hillclimb, and now McMurtry has also topped the leader board on the Top Gear test track.
Concerned that the car might suck up the drain covers on the former Royal Air Force base (as happened at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix) the Top Gear team welded them shut before letting the current Stig loose in the 1000-hp EV.
Despite the bumps and challenging of corners, like Chicago, Hammerhead and Gambon where Tom Cruise put a Reasonably Priced car on two wheels, the Spéirling smashed the 21-year-old record set by a 2004 Renault V-10 Formula 1 car, crossing the line in just 55.9 seconds. That’s over three seconds faster than the F1 car, and almost 20 seconds speedier than the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
“This isn’t just raising the bar,” says Top Gear Editor-in-Chief Jack Rix, “It’s a quantum leap in performance.”
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Report by Nik Berg
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