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 Tyler Rampersaud – April 15, 2022

Porsche Is Bringing Back The Rennsport Reunion In 2023

Rennsport Reunion continues in 2023. Established in 2001, Rennsport is a celebration of Porsche’s racing heritage. Together, both drivers and enthusiasts to a few days of pure Porsche excitement, on and off the track. The first Rennsport event happened at Lime Rock Park in 2001, and since then, it’s seen incredible growth. The last Rennsport event in 2018 ended up drawing in over 80,000 people, and now, the event is returning in 2023. While the location and dates are still to be determined, the CEO of Porsche Cars North America tells us that “Our ambition is to make Rennsport Reunion VII the best one yet.” MUST READ: Porsche Brings Two Motorsport Icons To The GP Ice Race In Austria “Rennsport” is a word that is close to the Porsche brand. As a matter of fact, Rennsport, which means “race sport” in German, is what “RS” stands for in the names of Porsche’s RS models. While it’s going to be a very long wait until the next Rennsport, and we can’t even say quite how long it’s going to be, there’s no doubt that this is a very exciting announcement. View All Porsches For Sale Source: Porsche

By Edward Jones – February 18, 2022

Q&A With Luxury Rally Club About The Upcoming Porsche Car...

Presented by Luxury Rally Club. In the automotive world, we are starting to feel a sense of normalcy with the experiential side of things ramping up. Events and rallies are coming back in full force, but no one does it quite like Luxury Rally Club. You may remember hearing about the Lamborghini Countach Rally this past summer, which was an event that very few people would be able to accomplish. Luxury Rally Club made it look easy and plans on breaking the internet again while creating automotive history with the upcoming Porsche Carrera GT Rally. We sat down with LRC’s Co-Founder Trevor Johnson to learn more about who they are, what they do and what's in store for the future. Image by @arthurbrassseur duPont REGISTRY: What is Luxury Rally Club? Luxury Rally Club: We put on private exclusive experiences for rare collectors and automotive enthusiasts. We strive to become the number one experiential company in the automotive space. dR: How did you start LRC, how did this idea come about? LRC: In 2017 I retired from a 15-year professional ice hockey career spanning across 7 different countries. During that time I played for the Italian national team and learned to speak fluent Italian. Hockey was my life and retirement was extremely difficult but I took a job as a brand ambassador for a luxury travel company immediately following that season. After meeting people from all over the world I used both of these experiences to build a large network. As my network expanded, I began to learn more and more about the luxury world and quickly discovered the opportunity and need to put on my own events. Through hockey connections and being Canadian one of the really special things I get to do is organized ice hockey all over the world for Justin Bieber and his team. I was delivering a custom Lamborghini jacket for JB that we had made for his birthday from Italy to LA. While staying in LA I was introduced through a mutual friend to Craig Ekberg my partner in LRC. He said, “Hey, I'm putting on this cool rally with a few of my friends that own WO Bentleys if you want to join us and help.” I had to ask him what a rally was, and he explained how it's an unforgettable drive paired with staying at luxury hotels. I immediately thought, “wow, I can book hotels for these guys”. I helped him with the hotel side of things and ended up joining them on the rally and saw the opportunity that putting 50-100 ultra-high net worth individuals in one room has an extreme value that goes along with it for brands. On the first rally, I was doing everything logistically from making sure all the bags made it to the right place to meeting with the Bentley owners throughout the day and late into the night, etc. We knocked it out of the park that first time and everyone was so thrilled with how the rally went. Even the co-drivers had a fantastic time because we took the time to include them in everything we did as well as gift them with luxury products that added to the experience. Craig and I sat down after to discuss the success we just had and strategize continuing to host more rallies. I knew at that moment we had a business and a great idea. dR: What rallies have you put on recently? LRC: Since the start, we have done three Bentley Rallies including the 100 years of Bentley Rally into Pebble Beach, the Route 66 National Park Rally with the Petersen Automotive Museum, the Lamborghini Countach Rally with Curated and the Endo Rally. In addition, we have also hosted the Preserve concourse and the Rolling Hills Country Club Wine and Car events for two consecutive years, despite 2 years lost to Covid and navigating that challenge. Image by @arthurbrassseur dR: What’s next for LRC? LRC: We want to be the number one experiential company in the automotive industry ---and be more involved in all of the automotive events that happen around the world. We want to create packages that help involve everyone in the car community during events such as Pebble Beach. Pebble Beach is a good example because there are a variety of exclusive events throughout the area, so we want to create an all-inclusive experiential package that includes access to all of these places. We also want to do more stagnant events since we are partnered with The Quail and put on the Santa Lucia Preserve Party, and have a VIP Paddock at Laguna Seca. We plan to do more things like this. We encourage partners and clients of LRC to feel like they are invited to everything. We also want to continue to do these Anniversary Rallies around the world with the backing of the OEM’s. Getting these like-minded people together in one place will forever be the best experience. Especially since you can put miles on your car now without them depreciating a lot in value. Image by @arthurbrassseur With COVID hitting I had a chance to look at how to make this business more sustainable, I brought in our CTO Jesse Teindl who has big ideas and a passion for cars and technology. Having someone I knew I could trust, with the same values and goals for LRC, we're looking to the future and finding new and exciting ways to offer our exclusive bespoke services to people across the globe. Luxury Rally Club will continue to strive to put on events that exceed expectations, while also trying to reach a wider demographic and making partnerships with companies that we can stand behind. dR: Why Carrera GT? LRC: This has always been a car on our radar and arguably one of the hottest on the market today! The way the Carrera GT conversation started was when Jimmy Prountzos, a Porsche expert and owner of Junipero Serra Porsche Mercedes in California, called me and said: “I saw what you did with the Countach Rally. Can we recreate that with the CGT?” After hanging up the phone, ten minutes later we had the Porsche Carrera GT Rally in motion! dR: What should people expect on the Carrera GT Rally? LRC: Expect to make history with like-minded Carrera GT owners and enthusiasts and people that really enjoy driving their cars. Not to mention we bought out the famous French Laundry for a night. We are going to multiple top wineries to bring this first-class experience full circle, all while celebrating the cars. This is not just a car meetup, it is a luxurious life experience that everyone is going to enjoy. People just show up with their cars and we take care of the rest, we will handle the whole process from door to door. Every aspect will be handled by us, just come and enjoy your car. On top of all that, each attendee should expect a surprise visit from some very influential people, some of which may be related to the history of the CGT as well as a special appearance by Porsche! You are not going to want to miss this! For more information on how to be a part of history, click the link below! Contact: info@luxuryrallyclub.com Visit Website Image by @arthurbrassseur

By Andrew Nabors – January 16, 2019

Porsche Ice Races Return to Austria

If you happen to be in the Alps, get ready for "Fire on Ice". In a press release from Porsche, we've learned the details of this weekend's race. The winter has been quite cold in Zell am See, so Ferdinand Porsche is resurrecting one of his favorite events. The Porsche Ice Races have returned to Austria this weekend. His Great Grandfather started the tradition in Switzerland in 1937, and it became the hottest event on ice. After the war, he found a better location in Austria. The scenic beauty of Zell am See was so impressive, the Porsche family built an estate overlooking the valley. The races were held here until a genius took an 8-ton Mercedes Unimog onto the ice. It sank to the bottom, destroying the track in the process. Dr. Wolfgang Porsche's Five Favorite Cars This year the ice is very thick, so Dr. Porsche has invited his best drivers. Attacking the ice-covered airfield will be Hans Stuck, Richard Lietz, Mark Webber, and of course, Walter Röhrl. It will probably be the only place to feature a 911 GT2 RS up against a 356 Spyder. The rear engine layout of the 911 offers grip in any situation, so the challenge is keeping oversteer in-check. The 718 Series and the AWD models have a nice advantage, so it should be fun for all. To learn how Porsches can handle any weather, click the link below to find a 911 near you and stay with us for all your Porsche news. Find A Porsche 911 near you " width="680"> Related: 2019 Porsche 911 Caught Winter Testing Porsche Driving Experience Winter 2017

By Edward Jones – March 01, 2016

Das Renn Treffen – South Florida’s Largest Porsche Concourse

Porsche is undisputedly an iconic brand. Ever since the launch of the first 911 at the Frankfurt motor show in 1963, the ‘Porsche Mythos’ (translation: ‘the myth of Porsche’) has consistently grown. No other car’s shape is more recognizable. Few other brands have more history. No other make is loved as much as Porsche.On March 6th the second annual ‘Das Renn Treffen’ (translation: the race meet) will once again pay homage to this icon and unite hundreds of Porsche cars with thousands of enthusiasts in the streets of South Miami.Last year’s inaugural event featured 175 classic and new Porsche automobiles, among them a 1-of-7 Carrera G5 356 four-cam, a Carrera GT and a 918 Spyder. 6,000 visitors were awed by an unforgettable display.This year promises to be even grander with over 200 cars expected to register, showcasing almost 60 years of Porsche evolution. Judges and visitors will vote on their favorite cars in 21 categories of the curated concourse.Spectators have the opportunity to mingle with collectors to get first-hand details on every car.To add to the excitement, Magnus Walker of Urban Outlaw fame, joins Das Renn Treffen to share stories and sign autographs. Rumor has it that he is collaborating with Nakai-san of RWB at Miami’s Parkhaus 1 , the event organizer.And if all this was not enough, Bruce Hollander will exhibit his extensive collection of Porsche memorabilia publicly for the first time during the concourse. Over decades, he has preserved unique items such as the very first English-language Porsche brochure, printed in 1948, hundreds of Porsche race car and car models, and several rare ‘Hoffman trophies,’ which were awarded to deserving dealers in the 1950s by Max Hoffman, Porsche’s first importer in the US. Lovingly named “Porsche Obsession,” this collection is said to be one of the largest in the world.Das Renn Treffen, the largest Porsche gathering in South Florida, will certainly not disappoint and offers something for everyone. Especially if you, like us, love Porsche.Learn More

By Edward Jones – June 04, 2015

Win A 2015 Porsche 911 Carrera In the 26th Annual Diabete...

Have you ever dreamt of owning your very own Porsche 911, but haven't yet had the means to acquire one? Now you can win one with the single purchase of a $100 ticket. Better yet, you can increase your odds by buying multiple tickets. On Saturday, June 20, the Diabetes Foundation 26th annual raffle will take place. The prize? A brand new 2015 Porsche 911 Carrera to one lucky entrant. To enter, click here or on the button found below. Each ticket costs just $100 and there are only 3,000 tickets available. Those who purchase a ticket will not only have the chance of putting a brand new 911 in their garage, but will also help those in need. Proceeds from this raffle will go to the Diabetes Foundation, a life changing organization dedicated to improving the care and quality of life for people with diabetes through providing medical assistance, public education and camp scholarships for children. The 2015 Porsche 911 comes packing 350 hp, a 0-60 mph time of just 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 179 mph. It's the perfect display of German engineering and styling, blending both beauty and power in one automobile. If anyone ever thinks about owning a Porsche, the 911 Carrera is the first car to come to mind because of its lengthy and successful history. And now, by purchasing a ticket and helping out a good cause, you might put a piece of Porsche’s history in your garage. Enter NowGallery Sponsored by: More Information on the Diabetes Foundation

By Edward Jones – May 28, 2015

Das Renn Treffen 2015 Recap: A Porsche Lover's Dream Event

Das Renn Treffen - South Miami’s first annual Porsche Concours- was held on May 3, with over 6,000 Porsche enthusiasts showing up to see the showcase of unique and valuable German automobiles. For the event, a large strip of the ever-busy Sunset Drive from SW 57th Avenue to US1 was closed off.175 classic and new Porsches were registered for the event, including a 1-of-7 Carrera G5 356 four-cam, Carrera GT and a 918 Spyder. The value of all cars shown was close to $20 million. At the event, visitors voted on their favorites for 21 categories. These votes counted towards the winners of the People's Choice award. Additionally, judges decided on the Best of Show awards for five different categories. These results can be view below, as well as an extensive gallery of the event. (Also Read: Porsche 918 Spyder vs Carrera: Witness The Hybrid Power) The Ras Renn Treffen went off without a hitch and the show of support was incredible. And, what makes this event even more special is that proceeds will be donated to local charities in South Miami. Be sure to stay with us for next year's event, which is sure to be even bigger. Best of Show Winners Best of Show 1 Unrestored 1950 - 1998 (75 % original Paint & Interior) – Sebastian Hoelzel Best of Show 2 Best Paint All Years all models – Andres Martinez Best of Show 3 Best Interior All Years all models – Andres Missair Best of Show 4 Best Motor All Years all models – Alex McDougal Best in Show 5 Best of Show All Years all models – Larry Rodriguez People’s Choice Award Winners Class 1 All Years All 356 – German Valencia Class 2 1965 - 1973 All 911 – Paul Mazzei Class 3 1970 - 1976 All 914 & 914-6 – Autuum Sacramore Class 4 1965 - 1969 & 1976 All 912 – Andres Missar Class 5 1974 - 1989 All 911 G-series – Antonio Fernandez Class 6 1975 - 1989 All 930s – Bruno Ricci Class 7 1990 - 1998 All 964s & 993 Naturally Aspirated – Miguel Monnichmeyer Class 8 1990 - 1998 964 Turbo & 993 Twin Turbo – Sebastian Banchs Class 9 1999 - 2004 996s Naturally Aspirated – Sebastian Ducard Class 10 2001 - 2015 996TTs, 997TT & 991TT (All water cooled T/T) – Michael Sama Class 11 2005 - 2015 997s, 991s Naturally Aspirated – Rubin Alsin Class 12 All Years Carrera GTs & 918 Spiders – Francisco Perez Class 13 All Years All years GT2s & GT3s – Guillermo Saavedra Class 14 All Years 924s, 944s, 968s, 928s – Peter Olliviera Class 15 All Years All Boxsters & Caymans – Marcelo Cohen Class 16 All Years All Macan, Panamera , Cayenne – Alex Rodriguez Class 17 1999 - on Late Race cars, modified production, etc – Nick Ward Class 18 Pre-1998 Early Race Cars - RSR, 904,906,934,935,956,962, etc – Autuum Sacramore Class 19 Special Interest Factory - Prototype Build Low production cars – Miguel Monnichmeyer Class 20 Replicas All models – Manny Fernandez Class 21 Outlaw All Aircooled models – Alex McDougal Gallery

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