McMurtry Spéirling breaks Top Gear Test Track record
Records tumble for the all-electric hypercar
The McMurtry Spéirling - a British-built, single-seat, electric hypercar - has beaten the Top Gear Test Track record by 3.1 seconds in an historic moment at Dunsfold.
The previous quickest time, held by the V10-powered Renault R24 Formula 1 racecar from 2004, was smashed by The Stig with the Spéirling adding the record to ones achieved at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb in 2022 and Laguna Seca Corkscrew Hillclimb in 2024.
Credit - Top Gear Youtube Channel - This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios.
McMurtry Automotive - The Story
The McMurtry Spéirling story began when Irish billionaire inventor Sir David McMurtry founded McMurtry Automotive alongside Thomas Yates in 2016, with the aim of reviving and modernising fan car technology inspired by the successful 1970’s Can-Am and Formula One fan cars. McMurtry passed away in December 2024, and his legacy continues with a small team of engineers at the company’s base in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.
The record breaking electric hypercar was introduced to the world in 2021 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, being driven by British racing driver Derek Bell. The Spéirling - Irish for thunderstorm - was created to buck the trend of increasingly heavier vehicles. McMurtry wanted to build a lightweight electric driver’s car, and following three years of development in secrecy, the 900 kg Spéirling was born.
The single-seat, rear-wheel drive Spéirling is powered by two electric motors, with its differentiator being the fan-powered downforce system, which produces 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) of downforce at a standstill. As you’re aware by now, the Spéirling boasts some seriously impressive speed and can accelerate from 0-60mph in 1.55 seconds, with a top speed of 185 mph. The Top Gear Test Track lap shows onboard POV footage from The Stig’s perspective, and you can really gauge the intensity of the drive, as it is wrestled around the circuit.
The McMurtry Spéirling at Goodwood - Photo Credit: Michele Borioni
McMurtry Spéirling becomes the first car to drive upside down
If its rapid speed wasn’t already enough of an accolade, the McMurtry Spéirling has also become the first car to drive upside down…as you do.
The car’s proprietary fan system was used in a slightly different way, keeping it attached to a specially built rotating rig at the brand’s headquarters. The theory was discussed as a serious possibility for high-performance cars in the past due to the amount of downforce they generate, however, it was never put into practice, until now.
What makes the Spéirling different from other high performance cars is its patented Downforce-on-Demand system which enables the car to accelerate, brake and turn with a high level of grip, especially at low speeds.
McMurtry co-founder Thomas Yates drove the Spéirling up a ramp and onto a purpose built platform for the record attempt, with the floor then rotating. A sufficient vacuum underneath the hypercar’s floor then helped to hold it upside down, before Yates drove forward unsupported.
Yates commented: “That was just a fantastic day in the office! Strapping in and driving inverted was a completely surreal experience. The 2000kg of downforce that the fan system can generate is truly astonishing to experience and it’s great to show the reason why our Spéirling continues to take records around the world.”
“This demonstration was an exciting proof of concept using a small purpose-built rig, but is perhaps just the beginning of what’s possible. With a longer inverted track or a suitable tunnel, we may be able to drive even further! Huge congratulations and thanks to the entire McMurtry Automotive team, especially the engineers involved in the car and fan system’s design, they are the heroes of today. ”
Credit - McMurtry Automotive YouTube Channel
How many McMurtry Spéirling will be built?
The record breaking car is a Prototype and an evolution of the hypercar that broke the Goodwood record in 2021. It is the next step towards a production model, with only 100 of those set to be created.
Customer deliveries of these 1,000bhp production models are set for 2026 and will feature a higher 100kWh capacity battery. Prices started at £984,000, including taxes.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: McMurtry Automotive