McLaren F1 prototype XP5 hits 240 mph
With McLaren F1 celebrations going on, we thought it was a good time to show the video of the McLaren F1 – XP5 – hitting 240.1 mph – a world record.
The last few weeks have been a bit of a McLaren F1 festival on Cars UK. But then it is 20 years since the team that created the McLaren F1 was first brought together, as yesterday’s F1 photos and info from McLaren were keen to tell us.
All that needs to be written about the McLaren F1 already has been, but one thing we haven’t really covered in any detail before is the F1’s top speed record of 240.1mph, which stood as the world record top speed for a production car until the Bugatti Veyron stole that crown.
The difference is, of course, that the McLaren F1 needed no forced induction to achieve the top speed – just Gordon Murray’s perfect design and a compact size. Oh, and a thumping great BMW V12 custom designed just for the F1.
The Mclaren F1 which took the 240.1 mph run was actually XP5, the last of the F1 prototypes which was already five years old when the run took place on 31st March 1998. XP5 was driven by Andy Wallace at the Ehra-Lessien proving ground in Germany and – despite already having 45,000 miles of testing under its belt -he beat 240mph, which still stands as a world record for a naturally aspirated production car.
And if you’re ever out and about at motor shows you may be fortunate enough to see XP5. It is now a proper road legal car, still owned by McLaren (it will never be sold) and carries the number plate K8 MCL.
The video quality isn’t the greatest – but then it is 12 years ago.
Peter Hodgson says
It belonged to George Harrison.
Cars UK says
No, it didn’t. Although George did have an F1
CHASE says
I still say this is the best car ever built ever. Probably will never be beat.
NottinghamForest22 says
Best car ever.
PabloRichi says
Both the McLaren and Bugatti are great cars but they are totally different