Events

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

By Edward Jones – July 22, 2026

The Supercar Owners Circle Returns to Monterey for a Curated Coastal Drive

There is a certain kind of Car Week experience reserved for very few, and the Supercar Owners Circle, part of duPont REGISTRY Group, has built its reputation on delivering it. While much of Monterey unfolds behind rope lines and camera crews, SOC has always understood that the truest expression of these cars is the drive itself. This August, the club brings that philosophy back to the Peninsula for its Get Together. The centerpiece is a curated drive on August 12. It begins at Carmel Meadows and covers approximately 100 miles, close to three hours of uninterrupted road, with a dedicated escort accompanying the group throughout. The roads surrounding Carmel-by-the-Sea rank among the most rewarding in the country, and to experience them in a tightly curated convoy of extraordinary machinery, with every detail handled, is a privilege that few settings during Car Week can offer. Places are strictly limited, and deliberately so. GALLERY-EMBED An Exclusive Global Network The Supercar Owners Circle is a global members network built around the world's most discerning collectors. Established to celebrate a shared passion for extraordinary cars among a like-minded community, it has grown into one of the most exclusive circles in the automotive world. The approach is refined and consistent. SOC curates events at exceptional locations around the globe, bringing together the rarest and most uncompromising supercars of past and present, and pairs them with the access, tailored service, and company that elevates ownership into something far more meaningful. Its spiritual home is Andermatt, high in the Swiss Alps, where the SOC Classic has become a fixture. The calendar has carried members to Costa Smeralda, Puglia, Marbella, and beyond. Now part of duPont REGISTRY Group, SOC continues to expand its presence, with the United States an increasingly central chapter of that story. GALLERY-EMBED A Memorable American Debut Monterey 2025 marked the club's arrival in the United States, and it announced itself with confidence. SOC assembled more than 30 of the world's rarest performance cars and, in a departure from the pace of Car Week, built the day around genuine access and time behind the wheel. The gathering was extraordinary by any measure. A Ferrari F40 and F50 alongside the Daytona SP3 and Monza SP2, a Koenigsegg Regera, a Czinger 21C, a De Tomaso P72, a Pagani Zonda, and bespoke creations from Singer and Gunther Werks. The day opened with a private preview of the Touring Superleggera Veloce12 Barchetta at a Mediterranean-style villa in Carmel Meadows, an intimate first look staged before the car's public debut. Then the convoy took to the road. The 2026 Drive This year the Get Together takes place on August 12, at the heart of a Car Week that runs from August 7 through 16. The 12th belongs to the drive, returning to Carmel Meadows, where last year's reveal was hosted. Approximately 100 miles, close to three hours, with a dedicated escort from start to finish. For the collector who understands that these cars were created to be driven, it is the most fitting way to spend a morning on the Peninsula. The road ahead, remarkable company alongside, and an experience curated to the standard that defines the Supercar Owners Circle. Visit SupercarOwnersCircle.com

By Edward Jones – July 06, 2026

One Night at the Santa Lucia Preserve: LRC's Concours & Cocktails

Monterey Car Week has no shortage of daytime spectacle. The best part often comes after the sun drops. That is the thinking behind The Preserve Concours & Cocktails, the evening Luxury Rally Club is hosting on Thursday, August 13, from six to ten. It lands right in the middle of Monterey Car Week, when everyone worth knowing in this world is already in the area, and it does something most of the week's events don't. It slows down. Instead of ropes, crowds, and a race to see everything before the lights go out, you get a few hours on the lawn with great cars, a cocktail in hand, and the kind of company that makes a night like this worth remembering. The food matches the setting, genuinely over the top, with a Wagyu station and unlimited caviar you never have to wait in line for. The setting is a big part of the appeal. The Santa Lucia Preserve is one of those places that feels a world away from the rest of the peninsula, all rolling hills and oak canopy tucked into the coastal range above Carmel. String lights go up between the trees, the cars come in as the afternoon cools, and the whole thing takes on the feel of a private gathering rather than a public show. If you have been to enough of these, you know the difference. This is the good version. GALLERY-EMBED Concours & Cocktails is exactly what the name promises, and the balance between the two is the point. The cars are serious, the setting is relaxed, and nobody is rushing you from one thing to the next. Think collector machinery parked across the lawn as the light softens, a proper bar doing proper drinks, and enough room to actually talk to the people standing next to you. The concours side gives you something to admire. The cocktail side gives you a reason to stay. That mix is harder to pull off than it sounds. Plenty of events lean too far one way, either a static display with nowhere to sit or a party where the cars are an afterthought. LRC has built its name on getting that balance right, and an intimate evening format plays directly to that strength. GALLERY-EMBED The guest list is where an event like this earns its reputation, and this one is invitation only for a reason. The room skews toward global collectors, founders, and the industry figures who tend to set the tone during Car Week. These are people who have seen every kind of automotive event there is, which raises the bar on what actually impresses them. An evening built around access and atmosphere, rather than volume and noise, is exactly what that crowd shows up for. It also makes for better conversation. When the people around you know their stuff and are there for the same reasons you are, the night takes care of itself. You are as likely to end up in a good conversation about a car you have chased for years as you are to meet someone whose collection you have only ever seen in photos. GALLERY-EMBED Monterey Car Week can be a lot. The calendar fills up fast, the driving between events eats the day, and by midweek even the most committed enthusiast is ready for something that doesn't feel like a scramble. A single evening at the Preserve, well run and unhurried, is a smart place to land. It gives you the cars and the crowd you came for without the fatigue that usually comes with them. Luxury Rally Club has spent years building experiences for collectors who want real access rather than a badge and a program. Concours & Cocktails fits that pattern. Handle the logistics completely, put the right cars and the right people in a setting worth the drive, and let the night do the rest. On the Thursday of Car Week, in that setting, that is about as good as it gets. For details on The Preserve Concours & Cocktails, reach Luxury Rally Club at trevor@luxuryrallyclub.com or visit luxuryrallyclub.com.

By Edward Jones – June 26, 2026

The Drive is the Destination: LRC's Rally to Car Week 2026

Most people fly into Monterey Car Week. The smarter move is to drive there, and to make the drive its own event. That's the idea behind Luxury Rally Club's Rally to Car Week, a three-day run up the California coast that turns the trip into the opening act rather than the commute. The route works the way a good road trip should. It starts in Los Angeles on Monday, August 10, with registration and a brunch kick-off at Soho House in Malibu, then points north toward Pismo Beach with a comfort stop in Los Olivos along the way. The Cliffs Hotel & Spa serves as home base for two nights, with dinner in the courtyard the first evening and a nightcap out on the lawn once the cars are parked. Day two loosens up. Breakfast on your own schedule, a driver's meeting, then out into the Central Coast with a pastry and coffee stop in Morro Bay before lunch at Daou Winery & Estate above Paso Robles. The wine country roads around there are some of the best driving in the state, the kind of sweeping, lightly trafficked tarmac that rewards a good car and a clear morning. Evening brings everyone back to The Cliffs for cocktails on the lawn and dinner under the open sky. The last leg is the payoff. Wednesday runs from Pismo Beach up to Monterey, with a photo stop on Highway 1 along the PCH and lunch at The Club at Pasadera before check-in at Car Week accommodations. By the time the group rolls into town, everyone has already logged a few hundred miles together, which is a far better way to start the week than stepping off a plane. Luxury Rally Club builds experiences for collectors and enthusiasts who want real access rather than a logo on a lanyard. The company has earned a reputation in the luxury-automotive space for getting the details right, the kind of operator that handles the logistics so completely that guests can simply drive and enjoy the company they're keeping. The crowd on these events tends to be exactly the people you'd want sharing the road, a mix of serious collectors, industry figures, and the occasional familiar face. For 2026, duPont REGISTRY returns as the Official Media Partner, which fits. Both sides care about the same thing, which is putting great cars and the people who love them in the right setting and letting the rest take care of itself. The package runs $6,400 per couple and is built so you don't have to think about the parts that usually take the shine off travel. That covers two nights at the Cliffs Hotel & Spa, full concierge service, a luggage truck so your bags travel separately while you drive light, and dining throughout the run, from the Malibu kick-off to the wine country lunches and the dinners back at The Cliffs. Show up, drive some of the best roads California has, eat and stay well, and arrive at Monterey Car Week already in the thick of it rather than on the outside looking in. Spots on something like this don't sit around, so anyone weighing it should move sooner than later. For full details or to reserve a place, reach out to Luxury Rally Club at trevor@luxuryrallyclub.com.

By Edward Jones – June 22, 2026

Get Ready For Monterey Car Week 2026

We've spent the past year showing up differently, and if you spent any time with us lately, you noticed. Holding more events. Interacting with our readers and fans more than ever before. Offering more services and solutions for the automotive enthusiast. Even breaking world records. That shift is the whole point. duPont REGISTRY Group has always been where the collector world comes to look. Lately we care just as much about where it comes to gather, and nothing gathers this world like Monterey. And for this year, we're meeting you there in person, in a much bigger way. Monterey Car Week 2026 runs August 7 through 16, but we've been counting down for a while. There's too much packed into those ten days to take in all at once, so here are a few of the events we're looking forward to most, as they provide us with exciting opportunities to be present and engage with you all. It opens with the Luxury Rally Club's (LRC) Rally to Car Week, three days from the 10th through the 12th that start in Los Angeles and trace the Pacific Coast Highway north through Malibu and Pismo Beach with a tight group of owners who actually drive their cars. Midweek the Supercar Owners Circle Get Together Monterey pulls together one of the most exclusive rosters anywhere on the 12th and 13th, all curated drives and good company. Then Thursday the 13th brings The Preserve, the invitation-only Concours and Cocktails evening up at Santa Lucia, hosted by LRC. From there it just keeps building. Friday the 14th is The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the garden party on the Quail Lodge lawns where the rarest cars and motorcycles share grass with collectors and the occasional royal. Saturday the 15th is an absolutely loaded day. Exotics on Broadway takes over Seaside as the largest single-day show of the week, wall to wall super, hyper, and exotic metal. Concorso Italiano runs the same day for everyone who lives and breathes Alfa, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. Then the sun goes down and the Monterey Motorsports Festival lights up the Monterey County Fairgrounds from 5 PM to 11 PM, the biggest open-to-the-public night of the week. Car parades in motion, revving shows, live music, real nightlife energy. It's how Saturday should end. And these are just a few of the events happening all week. For Sunday, of course, there is the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance taking place, an event that should be on every automotive enthusiast's bucket list. If you have never attended, this is something you have to experience at least once. Fair warning: once you go, you'll want to go back the following year. Monterey Car Week is an incredibly special time of the year for us at duPont REGISTRY Group as the entire week revolves around those we cater to. The collectors, the builders, the friends we've made over years of doing this, and they all find their way to Monterey. We want to be right there with them. Showing up bigger this year, across more of the week than ever, comes down to something simple: being present for the conversations, the drives, and the handshakes. There's plenty we can't say just yet, so mark the calendar for August 7 through 16 and keep your eyes right here. Stay tuned, because what we have coming is worth the wait.

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