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McMurtry Spéirling Electric Fan Car Shatters Records At Laguna Seca
The British-built McMurtry Spéirling electric fan car achieved two records and maintained a 100% win rate at the 'Laguna Seca Reverse Corkscrew Hillclimb' on 11th August. This event marked McMurtry's dynamic debut in the USA, where existing customers eagerly awaited test drives of the prototypes brought for car week activities.
Max Chilton, a former F1 and Indycar driver, piloted the McMurtry Spéirling during the Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion. The first record was set on the longer layout used in previous events. Chilton clocked 28.6 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 34.69 seconds set by a 1976 Lotus Type 77 Formula One Car.
The unique fan downforce system of the McMurtry Spéirling played a crucial role in this achievement. Drawing power from a bespoke battery system with high-performance Molicel lithium-ion cells, it provided exceptional grip and instant torque from its 1000bhp electric powertrain.
The McMurtry Spéirling also set a new record on the revised shorter layout introduced for 2024. During the top three shootout, it achieved a time of 21.958 seconds. The second-place finisher was a 1967 Ford Falcon race car with a time of 29.004 seconds, followed by a 2022 Ferrari SF90 at 29.822 seconds.
The Laguna Seca Reverse Corkscrew Hillclimb uses turns 11, 10, and 9 driven in reverse order to normal racing. Inspired by the Goodwood Festival of Speed, this event began three years ago and has since become a spectacle of diverse entrants.
Customer Test Drives and Public Showcases
In the coming weeks, McMurtry will focus on private customer test drives while showcasing their cars at various public events. These include the Motorlux party at Monterey Jet Centre on 14th August, The Quail Motorsports Gathering on 16th August, demo laps at Laguna Seca Full Circuit on 17th August, and L'Auberge Carmel on 18th August.
The McMurtry Spéirling PURE hyper-track car is now available to order starting at £895k plus taxes and delivery (approximately $1.142 million). It features selectable performance drive modes ranging from GT3 to F1 and Indycar levels of pace.
Advanced Technology and Future Plans
The McMurtry Spéirling generates an impressive 4,400 pounds of downforce from zero mph using onboard fans. This allows for remarkable dynamic performance. The advanced P50B battery cells from Molicel enable the customer version to perform track runs at GT3 pace for up to 20 minutes before needing another quick recharge.
Max Chilton described his experience: "The Corkscrew is one of the most famous corners in the world. Normally it’s a blind approach on entry, so in the reverse hillclimb it’s unsighted on the exit. You have to shoot up the 18 metres elevation change and then hope you’ve picked the right line as you launch over the top."
Future Demonstrations
The next driving demonstration will be back at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Motorsports Reunion on Saturday, 17th August from 11:50 to noon. Two cars will be driven by McMurtry Managing Director Thomas Yates and experienced historic racer Philip Kadoorie to showcase that such high performance is accessible to regular driving enthusiasts.
Thomas Yates expressed his excitement: "The Reverse Corkscrew Hillclimb has been such an enjoyable way to showcase the cars in motion for the first time ever on US soil. The level of excitement from everyone here at Laguna Seca has made it very memorable."
The objectives for McMurtry Spéirling PURE include making record-breaking performance accessible to track enthusiasts, reviving legendary fan car technology, and restoring passion for small lightweight cars.
McMurtry aims to become one of the world's most prestigious automotive brands through motorsport innovation inspired by past legends while championing small and lightweight designs that highlight British engineering excellence.
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