TRAX Donington has just announced that one of the most technologically advanced vehicles ever built will be on show at Donington on July 1st. While the P1 has been out of production for three years, its innovative technology is still at the forefront of performance, at least until the new wave of hypercars arrive.
Many of you will know the ins and outs of the McLaren P1. While manufacturers such as Toyota has pursued hybrid technology to decrease emissions, Porsche led the way to produce a hybrid engine solely based on boosting road car performance, something it had been using in Le Mans LMP1 class. McLaren followed suit and realised that its 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine used in the rest of the production car range could be boosted with an electric motor. However, the whole system is a masterpiece.
How it works
The M838TQ powertrain uses an Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) in the form of an electric motor which produces 179PS. This provides instant torque under acceleration to curb turbo lag. A Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) works by harnessing energy under throttle lift-off, charging the battery on the go.
Finally, a Drag Reduction System (DRS) controls the rear wing to allow the greatest amount of airflow possible to increase acceleration. In other words, the P1, along with the LaFerrari and 918 Spyder (which work both in similar ways) are so far advanced to cars of the previous decade.
It’s not just the engine that’s innovative; the P1 also makes use of a carbon fibre MonoCage, which forms the base of the car. Its ultra-lightweight composition totals just 90kg, which means that despite the addition of the heavy engine tech, the car weighs in at 1547kg, translating to 593bhp/tonne; a top speed of 217mph and a 0-62mph time of under 3 seconds. Pretty insane eh?
For your chance to get up close and personal with one of just 375 units built, book your entry tickets today at TRAX Donington
