Incredible stuff, crushes F1 cars, seems just as good as this Lola thing and you can already drive it (or at least see it on a track), and you can order one if you've got a spare 1 million GBP kicking around. Deliveries supposedly start next year or thereabouts.
F1 cars have long since stopped trying to be as fast as humanly possible. Making a car that is faster than an F1 over 1 lap is impressive but not exactly unexpected. I would like to see the McMurtry attempt a full grand prix and see how fast it is.
IDK what a grand prix is. McMurtry uses downforce fans which were banned from F1 some decades ago, so it would not be allowed to compete in F1 or formula-E or whatever. Otherwise it would beat all the conventional cars. The downforce fans give it too much of an advantage, which is why they are prohibited now.
TLDR: they entered a fan car in 1978 that beat everything else, but provoked enough opposition that they pulled out of competition and the technology was banned. The present-day Spéirling was inspired partly by that car.
Also: https://fancarexperience.com/ pay $5000 an hour to drive the Spéirling around a track. Different packages available starting at $500 for a quick ride and acceleration test.
Stuff like fans for extra downforce and higher power engines were tried in F1 but ultimately they push the limits of safety too far. Wouldn’t want to be in that car if it popped off the ground or the fan failed.
The limits on safety are moved in both directions all the time.
Example of more safety: the halo device.
Example of less safety: driver controlled active aero in 2026.
It was dogma that it would be unsafe so it has been forbidden in F1 since aero has been a thing in car racing. Then they remove energy recovery from the exhaust (the MGU-H) to lure new manufacturers in. They don't want to add refueling again, they don't want to make a bigger ICE and they are scratching their heads for how to run in about the same lap times with the same amount of gas and a less efficient power unit. So they reduce drag with active aero.
They could have allowed it at least since they let DRS in, or allowed fans. Both are greener ways (as in more energy efficient) to run fast and generate downforce than throwing HPs at it.
Anyway 2026 cars will lap slower than in 2025, especially on fast circuits like Monza because a less efficient engine is still a less efficient engine and simulations show that active aero can't compensate the loss of the MGU-H. F1 has been getting more and more prescriptive with its technical regulations since at least the 90s.
See also McMurtry youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mcmurtryautomotive
Incredible stuff, crushes F1 cars, seems just as good as this Lola thing and you can already drive it (or at least see it on a track), and you can order one if you've got a spare 1 million GBP kicking around. Deliveries supposedly start next year or thereabouts.
For some history, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brabham_BT46
TLDR: they entered a fan car in 1978 that beat everything else, but provoked enough opposition that they pulled out of competition and the technology was banned. The present-day Spéirling was inspired partly by that car.
Also: https://fancarexperience.com/ pay $5000 an hour to drive the Spéirling around a track. Different packages available starting at $500 for a quick ride and acceleration test.
And: Stig Laps (Top Gear test drive, sets new record for that track), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDfKhBcGh9w
Stuff like fans for extra downforce and higher power engines were tried in F1 but ultimately they push the limits of safety too far. Wouldn’t want to be in that car if it popped off the ground or the fan failed.
Example of more safety: the halo device.
Example of less safety: driver controlled active aero in 2026.
It was dogma that it would be unsafe so it has been forbidden in F1 since aero has been a thing in car racing. Then they remove energy recovery from the exhaust (the MGU-H) to lure new manufacturers in. They don't want to add refueling again, they don't want to make a bigger ICE and they are scratching their heads for how to run in about the same lap times with the same amount of gas and a less efficient power unit. So they reduce drag with active aero.
They could have allowed it at least since they let DRS in, or allowed fans. Both are greener ways (as in more energy efficient) to run fast and generate downforce than throwing HPs at it.
Anyway 2026 cars will lap slower than in 2025, especially on fast circuits like Monza because a less efficient engine is still a less efficient engine and simulations show that active aero can't compensate the loss of the MGU-H. F1 has been getting more and more prescriptive with its technical regulations since at least the 90s.