Friday 29th August 2014

BAC Mono vs McLaren P1: Time For Tea?

Rare you see either of these two in isolation, let alone battling on track together

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It's one of the best bits at any senior track day - the moment when some mega-exotic finds itself sharing the circuit with something that's light, running on sticky tyres and driven by somebody who knows what they're doing.

And that's what we seem to have here, with a McLaren P1 and a BAC Mono sharing Silverstone International. And, on the basis of this video, running surprisingly close together given the P1's 916hp total power output and 600kg of downforce. Because while the McLaren definitely has the advantage on the straights, the Mono - driven by racer Oli Webb - is right back up with it when it comes to braking and turning.

YouTube commenters have, predictably, turned this into a modern day David and Goliath with the Mono playing the plucky underdog. But as the P1 is apparently being driven by owner (and serial supercar collector) Paul Bailey - a man who definitely knows his way around a circuit - our suspicion is that he's sand-bagging to put on a show for the camera.

Anyway, it's a great to see two such radically different British performance cars being used properly, isn't it?

See here

[silvermog]

Nice to see a P1 out on track, but this is Bailey mucking around, probably out with a passenger I'd guess giving them a taste of the acceleration. Play time.

He's a serious driver, but those lines aren't what he'd be choosing if serious around Silverstone, whilst the P1 isn't in track mode either, witness the lean, ride-height and spoiler position.

Nice video montage, great to see both being used and great promo for BAC (got a lots of viewers globally I'm sure), but don't try to make it what it isn't ...