Video: Record-breaking McMurtry Spéirling returns at the 2023 Festival of Speed

14th July 2023

Simon Ostler

Can it really be a whole year since the McMurtry Spéirling smashed the Hill record in the Timed Shootout at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard? Memories of that momentous hillclimb run remain etched in our minds as though it was yesterday, but we don’t need to rely on memory anymore because the diminutive fan car is back at Goodwood.

Its presence this year is a little different, though. It’s here to help us celebrate 75 years of motorsport at Goodwood. There’s no plan to beat its own record, although chances of that would slim in these damp conditions. No, this time the McMurtry team are here simply to enjoy themselves, while also shouting about their new road-going version of the Spéirling, called the Pure.

The original car has been out on the Hill, though, once again showcasing its extraordinary fan system that spins up from a standstill to develop up to 2,000kg of downforce. As a result, despite the wet weather, it’s lightning quick away from the line.

Also new for this year, we’ve had a look at the McMurtry Spéirling’s stopping power, which looks almost as shocking as its acceleration. We imagine Max Chilton is having a far more relaxed time of it this weekend, but that being said, this thing is still crazy fast on its way up the Hill. The fact it’s wet seems to be a non-issue, which is a testament to just how much grip is being produced by the aerodynamics.