Friday 6th December 2013

McLaren P1 at the 'ring: Time For Coffee?

Video and press release boasts about 'ring lap time ... without mentioning what it actually is

---

Forget the politics around why McLaren hasn't released a P1 Nordschleife lap time for a little while and just enjoy this. And no, it's not a straight bridge to gantry either so it can't be timed...

Called 'McLaren P1 vs. The Nurburgring-Nordschleife', it makes for engrossing viewing. That is, once you're past the opening overly dramatic narration of the 'ring's significance. And Chris Goodwin strolling along the track.

But after a minute or so of the spiel, we finally see the XP2R prototype attack the Nordschleife. It absolutely tears its way down to the Foxhole and drifts out of the following chicane again looking hugely fast. The noise is interesting too, lots of turbo whistle evident from inside but a more bass-heavy V8 exhaust rumble than perhaps expected.

Actually, let's discuss the time for a second (pun intended). The paranoia has apparently reached such levels that the YouTube video doesn't even had a time display. And yet McLaren continues to boast about the car achieving "its one remaining performance target" around a circuit that "when it bites, it bites hard." Jenson Button is quoted saying "for it to have recorded a sub-seven minute lap time around the Nurburgring is the icing on the cake: proof positive, backed by hard data." Hard data that's conspicuous by its absence anywhere in the press release. Bizarre.

Anyway, you can enjoy the official statement in its indulgent entirety here.

For the video, see here.
 

[Sir_Dave]

The speed it took, along with that jump, towards Foxhole

Another nice video from McLaren!

[LotusOmega375D]

That whistling noise is reminiscent of the wind noise from my A-pillar!

[Krikkit]

Great video, the noises from the thing are absolutely brilliant! Just wish they'd release a time and be done with it.

[Dave Hedgehog]

LotusOmega375D said:

That whistling noise is reminiscent of the wind noise from my A-pillar!

im sorry but LMFAO

[StottyZr]

It sounds great inside the car. A little quiet and rumbly from outside though, doesn't seem very loud although I'm sure it has one hell of a presence in the flesh.

Oh, and ignoring that they haven't posted a time, this is a brilliant video.

[loudlashadjuster]

McLaren Marketing Department obviously said:

Just turn the commentary wkiness up to 11, yeah?

All this "Did they? Didn't they? What time?" stuff plays very poorly IMHO.

Awesome car though.

[rohrl]

Just publish a time and stop fking about.

[Digger]

Does a prototype's time even count I wonder? Strange.

[EricE]

Beautiful Video.

Bridgetogantry posted this:

facebook said:

"There's a McLaren dealer going in across from our Porsche dealership. In talking with those guys they said they contacted the manufacturer about the ring time as they have sold some P1's and the customers want to know. McLaren told them the P1 ran a 6:47 on street tires and a 6:33 on slicks. The only reason there holding back on releasing the time is because there waiting for Ferrari to release the LaFerrari's time first so Ferrari doesn't use their time as a benchmark and try and go beat it"

[Fittster]

When do delivers of the P1 start?

[EskimoArapaho]

LotusOmega375D said:

That whistling noise is reminiscent of the wind noise from my A-pillar!

Roger Whitaker in the passenger seat?

[Guvernator]

I have a strong suspicion they are keeping it in check to see what the LaFerrari will do. It seems to be a game of chicken, Porsche blinked first but now Mclaren and Ferrari seem to be in a staring down contest. The problem is if Mclaren shoot their bolt too early it will leave the door wide open for Ferrari to come in last and beat their time.

As for the noise it does sound lovely from the inside but too quiet from the outside and the shape of the thing still hasn't grown on me. I know it's all in the name of better aero but the melted cheese look just isn't doing it for me I'm afraid.

[epom]

Suspense is no longer killing me... dragging it out too long now !!

[Joe911]

Fittster said:

When do delivers of the P1 start?

They already have, a few weeks ago.

[V8RX7]

Sorry but that's a crap video.

It doesn't get started for ages and the only people who place cameras low down (instead of the driver's view) want video to look faster than it is.

Either show the full lap or show nothing

[hairykrishna]

What horrible marketing wkery. I much preferred the Porsche style of 'We did it in this time. Here's a video of us doing it'.

[keith2.2]

..but nobody is talking about the Porsche time.

ALL the attention is being focussed on the the McLaren and (to a lesser extent) the LaFez.

It may be marketing w*nkery, but when collumn inches and forum posts are a metric of success, it's working.

[loudlashadjuster]

EricE said:

Beautiful Video.

Bridgetogantry posted this:

facebook said:

"There's a McLaren dealer going in across from our Porsche dealership. In talking with those guys they said they contacted the manufacturer about the ring time as they have sold some P1's and the customers want to know. McLaren told them the P1 ran a 6:47 on street tires and a 6:33 on slicks. The only reason there holding back on releasing the time is because there waiting for Ferrari to release the LaFerrari's time first so Ferrari doesn't use their time as a benchmark and try and go beat it"

Makes perfect sense, but I wouldn't be holding any figures that Ferrari produce in much regard. I'm still of the opinion they can be a little...flexible in their interpretation of fair play with regard to tests and lap times.

[London424]

V8RX7 said:

It doesn't get started for ages and the only people who place cameras low down (instead of the driver's view) want video to look faster than it is.

Yeah looking at the video they probably struggled to break 10 minutes

The video has done exactly what it was supposed to. Left everyone wanting more.

[stuttgartmatt]

Guvernator said:

Porsche blinked first but now Mclaren and Ferrari seem to be in a staring down contest.

Porsche don't blink. For a start they're Germans! They just do what they do and that's make products that live up to their claims.......and usually with a little in reserve?!