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McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

A man in a red cap stands in front of greenery as a C8 Corvette with an American flag design, driven by Travis Pastrana, soars through the air on its longest jump, marked by a "110 FT." label and arrow indicating the distance.

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 16, 2025

Watch Travis Pastrana And Jim York Attempt The World's Lo...

They constructed a 110ft jump for the Corvette. Considered one of the most iconic names in action sports, Travis Pastrana built his successful career as a professional athlete on two wheels. While dirtbikes remain near and dear to his heart, starting to ride at only 4 years old, Travis' stunts and antics behind the wheel prove that he shares a passion for all things automotive. His driving skills recently paid off at Cleetus McFarland's Freedom 500 event at the Freedom Factory, where motorsport professionals and automotive YouTube stars raced the oval track in a fleet of Ford Crown Victorias. Finishing first place, Travis chose a brand-new C8 Corvette Z06 as his prize over a fully customized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The promise of jumping the Corvette only came after shredding the tires in a burnout and spray-painting an American flag on it. But after a lot of thinking and deliberation from friends, Travis and his team decided that a Z06 was far too nice to destroy in a stunt like this. The plan quickly shifted as the C8 Z06 was stripped entirely of its livery, paint-corrected and detailed, and sold to a new owner before being replaced by a C8 Corvette Stingray. Set in the remote mountains of Maryland, in less-than-ideal conditions for a performance-focused road car, the team performed a ton of calculations and speed tests to guarantee a safe and successful run. Travis sent a speed check off the 110ft jump both on his dirtbike and side-by-side UTV to lock in 70mph as the magic number. Where a lack of speed is normally the biggest concern with stunts, the Corvette's mid-engine V8 proves to be the opposite in this scenario. Its 490 horsepower output and sub-3-second 0-60mph put it in the dangerous situation of over-shooting the landing. Professional stunt performer Jim York suited up for a shot attempting the world's longest C8 Corvette jump. And while the thumbnail may give you a hint at what to expect, we'll let you tune in to see what happens. View all Chevrolet Corvettes for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Chevrolet Corvettes For Sale " width="680"> Source: Channel199 YouTube

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 19, 2023

Watch Hennessey Race Its 1000HP Cadillac CT5-V Against Th...

With Hennessey upgrades that boost its performance, you'll have to watch to see if the Cadillac CT5-V comes out on top. While the anticipation of a mid-engine Corvette first excited collectors and enthusiasts for the C8 generation, the real excitement was built around the future of the high-performance Z06 version. Falling into the hands of the upgrade specialists at Hennessey Performance, the team decided to put the stock C8 Corvette Z06 up against its very own H1000 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing in a head-to-head battle. The new Corvette Z06 unlocks a new category of power for the Chevrolet brand, generating an impressive 670 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque directly to its rear wheels. The track-focused Corvette harnesses its power from a mid-engine 5.5L supercharged V8 that pairs perfectly with a quick-shifting 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In Hennessey Performance's corner is the once-factory Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, rolling off the production line with over 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque. With Hennessey's H1000 package, the Cadillac CT5-V now makes a jaw-dropping 1,000 horsepower and 966 lb-ft of torque thanks to an upgraded supercharger, cooling components, and a more aggressive engine tune. The race takes stage on Hennessey Performance's test track, starting with a round one warm-up lap that turns into a 40mph roll race. With a couple more doors and some extra power under its hood, the Hennessey H1000 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing proves to be a worthy competitor against the new Z06. Needless to say, that specific C8 Corvette Z06 will not be stock for long in the hands of Hennessey Performance. View all Hennessey Performance inventory currently for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Hennessey Performance Inventory Source: Hennessey Performance YouTube

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By Jordan Aquistapace – September 05, 2023

Corvette Shines At Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Wit...

All generations of Corvette examples came together to take on the iconic race circuit.

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 22, 2023

Watch Hennessey Track Test The 700HP C8 Corvette H700 Sti...

If its fast enough for Hennessey Performance's Chief Engineer, then the H700 Corvette Stingray will put a smile on anyone's face.

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 28, 2023

Watch This 2023 C8 Corvette Hit 166 MPH On The Autobahn

With eyes set on a straight and open highway, this C8 Corvette unleashes all of its 490 horsepower!

By Andrew Nabors – May 13, 2021

2021 Corvette Convertible Revealed as Indy Pace Car

Chevrolet's 2-seater looks ready to race! For the 18th time in Corvette history, the Corvette will pace this year's Indianapolis 500. It seems appropriate, as the Chevrolet brothers were pioneers at this very track. May 30th will mark 100 years since Arthur had a great run in the fist Indy 500, and they were competitive for the next two decades. I have owned a few Corvette pace cars over the years, so I am partial to the 2007 which was dressed in Atomic Orange. To keep the field safe this year, we see Sky Cool Gray and Strike Yellow accented by the traditional logos of the event. The strobe lights are normally auxiliary, but Corvette engineers were able to integrate the strobes into the convertible's deck lid. The press release from IMS doesn't mention how many examples have been prepared, but rest assured, I am on the hunt for one. Click the button to see why the 2021 Corvette is right for you, and stay with us for all your Chevy news. Shop Corvette Images (C) Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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By Andrew Nabors – August 20, 2020

Chevrolet Celebrates 1.75 Million Corvettes

In three years, America's first supercar will be 70 years old. The first 1953 Chevrolet Corvette for sale was white with a red leather interior. That's why the workers at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant replicated the same livery on a new 2020 Corvette Stingray. Unfortunately, you can't buy it, as it is already in the National Corvette Museum next door. Signed by the talented team of UAW Local 2164, it is how Chevrolet celebrates 1.75 million Corvettes. C8 Corvette Stingray Price, Specs, Photos & Review The one-millionth Corvette was built in 1992 and swallowed by a sinkhole in 2014. It also had the signatures of its builders, so Chevrolet spent a year restoring a flattened car back to new. Production of the 2020 Stingray Convertible started yesterday, and they are sold out through 2021. After winning Sebring and Daytona back to back, we congratulate everyone at Team Corvette for building affordable and amazing supercars. Browse Chevrolet Corvette For Sale " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – May 19, 2020

Chevrolet C8 Corvette Academy Adds 23 New Videos

Now that the first C8 Corvettes have been delivered, the engineers want to make sure everyone can understand how to properly utilize its advanced features. The first films in the Corvette Academy sought to introduce and explain the eigth-generation car to the world. Now with feedback from owners, they have responded by adding 23 videos to the series. C8 Corvette Stingray Price, Specs, Photos & Review In the press release yesterday, we learned the topics start with proper break-in. For the first 500 miles, your new C8 Corvette Stingray will be limited on power. Throttle and spark are delayed to allow the bearings, lifters, valves, and the transmission to all get acquainted. Like all cars, if you beat on it from the dealer your drivetrain won't be as powerful or reliable. The others dive into: Track Prep, Driving Modes, Regular Maintenance, Memory Settings, and other aspects you need to know. Our dealers have trained Corvette Product Specialists waiting for you, so click the button below and find your new C8 Corvette Stingray for sale. Browse New Corvette For Sale https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7ufN7Cep1mHW17loj5tsF4iEBSPOCORB

By Andrew Nabors – May 12, 2020

Porsche and Chevrolet Decline 24 Hours of Le Mans

What happens when the biggest rivalry in recent history refuses to fight? To keep teams and spectators safe, the FIA, along with ALMS decided to move the race to September 19th. While this was a smart move, several other mandates were included. Team Corvette Racing's C8.R is limited to a 44.3mm throttle body. Only slightly larger than a golf ball, forcing a giant to breathe through a straw is not fair. That is perhaps why Automotive News has reported that Porsche and Chevrolet are sitting this one out. Porsche drivers wouldn't have much fun without Chevrolet, as they would likely lap the field a dozen times. The immense cost involved along with the rise of eSports are also considerations, so we're likely to see more major teams back out of the event. Our vote is to allow Stadium Super Trucks at Circuit de la Sarthe before this historic event implodes. As always, stay with us for all your Le Mans updates. https://twitter.com/CorvetteRacing/status/1259903377766572032

By Andrew Nabors – March 31, 2020

Hennessey Twin Turbo 2020 Corvette World Premiere

Lets see how some boost motivates the new C8 Corvette Stingray! " width="680"> C8 Corvette Stingray Price, Specs, Photos & Review Well it looks and sounds like a beast. Having efficiency while not in boost and offering 640 horsepower to the ground is very hard to do without access to the computer. Once it is cracked, John predicts 850 rear-wheel horsepower is not out of the question, so stay with us for all of your Hennessey Performance updates.

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