McMurtry Automotive has achieved a world first by driving its record-breaking Spéirling hypertrack car upside down. Thomas Yates, co-founder and managing director, utilised the car’s innovative Downforce-on-Demand™ fan system to secure it to the floor of a specially designed rotating rig at the company’s headquarters in Gloucestershire, England.
This achievement contributes to Spéirling’s record-breaking streak, which includes setting a new Top Gear Test Track record by 3.1 seconds, surpassing the previous record held by a V10 Renault R24 Formula 1 car from 2004. The Spéirling also holds records at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb and the Laguna Seca Corkscrew Hillclimb.
The Spéirling is a British-built, single-seat electric hypercar envisioned by the late Sir David McMurtry. Thomas Yates expressed, “Driving inverted was surreal. The 2,000 kg of downforce is astonishing, showcasing why our Spéirling continues to break records.”
How Is It Possible?
Although high-performance race cars have been theorised to drive upside down because of significant downforce, this was never attempted. The Spéirling’s Downforce-on-Demand™ system delivers downforce at any speed, providing exceptional grip even when stationary.
During the record attempt, Yates drove the car up a ramp onto a rotating platform that inverted it. The system generated a vacuum underneath, allowing for forward motion while upside down.
The Spéirling can accelerate to 60 mph in 1.5 seconds and corner at over 3g. Its unique falcon camouflage livery honours the original McMurtry fan car.
From Prototype to Production
The McMurtry Spéirling PURE Validation Prototype 1 (VP1) set the Goodwood record and marks progress toward a production model, with only 100 units planned. Deliveries of the Spéirling PURE, featuring a 100 kWh battery pack for 20 minutes of track time, are expected to start in 2026.
Safety
Despite its seemingly dangerous stunt, the Spéirling adheres to strict LMP1 safety standards. Testing indicates that the downforce can nearly enable the car to stop instantly when applying the brakes, even during a spin or loss of control.
