The word ‘Spéirling’ means thunderstorm in Irish, and that’s the perfect illustrative word to describe this car shown here, the 2021 McMurtry Spéirling by @mcmurtryautomotive, a single-seat electric prototype vehicle that was first ever presented to the public at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Shown here in it’s 2022 Goodwood Edition specification, this car is the newest Goodwood Festival of Speed Hill Climb Record holder, where it completed the course (1.16 miles) in just 39.08 seconds, driven by McMurtry test driver, and former racing driver for Carlin Motorsport, @maxchilton. The Spéirling was developed by a British startup company known as McMurtry Automotive. The company was founded in 2016 by Irish billionaire, and co-founder of the UK’s largest supplier of metrology equipment, Renishaw plc, Sir David McMurtry. The Spéirling is not certified for road use, nor is it homologated for racing, however, it was constructed using relevant motorsport safety requirements. One notable feature is the use of twin fans which act as an active downforce system without the use of a front or rear wing. These fans are reportedly capable of an extra 2000kg (4000+lbs) of downward force, and are said to issue a decibel level of about 120, which is close to the level of a military aircraft take off. McMurtry Automotive reports that the Spéirling weighs in at less than 1000kg (2,204lbs), and is said to be the first fan car to take part in ‘officially sanctioned motorsport since the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix’. McMurtry Automotive reports that a road-version may potentially be possible in the future, but for now, we can all continue to appreciate the sheer vigorousness that this car provides.
How many made? one-of-a-kind as a prototype
Engine: two electric motors that are housed inside of a specially designed axle known as an ‘e-axle’, combined with a 60-kWH Molicell battery - over 1000hp.
Debut: 2021 Goodwood Festival Of Speed
Top Speed: around 200mph
0-60mph: 1.5 seconds
Photo Credit: @rmpiix, @sl33vo.photo
Research: @rarecarsonly