The NEW McLaren W1: a Formula 1 car disguised as a road car | Henry Catchpole - The Driver's Seat

The McLaren W1 is following in some pretty illustrious tyre tracks, because the McLaren F1 and the McLaren P1 are both icons of the supercar landscape. But when it was unveiled the W1 didn’t seem to create quite the buzz you might expect, given the company’s heritage. Henry Catchpole went the McLaren Technology Centre to talk to the people behind it and do some investigation. What he found was a car that has true Formula 1 expertise baked into it and should be pretty incredible to drive.

With all 399 already accounted for at a cool £2million (before options) each, the W1 has arguably done all the impressing it needs already. But as a halo car, it should make those of us that can’t afford it dream about being able to afford it. We should long to just see one in the carbon and 3D printed titanium. One of the reasons that it hasn’t yet made people gasp is that a headline power output of 1257bhp isn’t really that extraordinary for a hypercar in 2024. Until, that is, you realise that all of it is going just to the rear wheels. That makes it much more interesting.

Then there are the looks, because at first glance the W1 could be considered a replacement for the 750S rather than a wild Ultimate Series car. But there are reasons for the way it looks. The first is that its complex aerodynamics are based on the principles of ground effects, which means it rather hides its aero light under a bodywork bushel, so to speak. Then there is the fact that this is attempting to be a genuinely useable supercar on the road as well as a blindingly fast one around a track. That means seating two people properly. As such it has to look a little more conventional than something like an Aston Martin Valkyrie.

But make no mistake, this car has a crazy amount of downforce. McLaren has genuinely put Formula 1 knowhow into it. For a start, Robin Algoo whose brainchild the aero concept is, worked as an aerodynamicist in the F1 team from 2010 to 2016. McLaren could have quoted a maximum downforce figure of 1298kg or 2862lb but as that’s only available for a fraction of a second under high speed braking, the decision was instead taken to quote the 1000kg that is available in a sustained way under high speed cornering.

The engine is also completely new, the suspension has 3D printed titanium elements, there is a heave spring at the front and, just as importantly, hydraulic power assistance for the steering has been retained. The interior features a new material called InnoKnit (which conjures up images of F1 Mechanics getting the knitting needles out in the pits in their spare time) and even the instrument binnacle is aerodynamic.

So, which would you have in your dream garage? McLaren W1, the Bugatti Tourbillon, the Ferrari F80 or something else? Let us know in the comments down below. And if you enjoy this video then please do think about giving it a thumbs up or even investigating the Hagerty Drivers Club by clicking on this link: https://www.hagerty.com/drivers-club/

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