Monday 25th March 2024

Lanzante preparing 'Madmac' drift car for FoS

Mad Mike Whiddett often brings something special to Goodwood; for 2024 it's going to be McLaren shaped...

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The difficulty with stealing the show at Festival of Speed is the need to return with something even bigger and better. Anyone who saw or heard Mad Mike Whiddett’s four-rotor RX-7 do its thing last year won’t have forgotten the experience in a hurry. So where to go from there? A Mad Mike McLaren, of course…

Project ‘Madmac’ will be debuted and drifted at this year’s Festival of Speed, a collaboration between Lanzante, O’Gara Coach and the man himself. Though designed to look like a P1 GTR, it’d be staggering to find that one of the real things had been sacrificed for a drift project. This is likely one of those humbler (yet still pretty exotic) McLarens made to look suitably madder by the people who knew them better than most. Lanzante is responsible (and famous) for road-converting GTRs and making that incredible Spider. A drift car ‘designed around bodywork of the track-focused McLaren P1 GTR’ ought to be a walk in the park.

With the initial part of the build having been Lanzante’s domain, Madmac is now back in New Zealand having the appropriate drift bits fitted (loads of power and loads of steering lock, for starters) at Whiddett’s workshop. O’Gara Coach is California-based, and is involved in getting the McLaren ‘to take on unique events and projects.’

Mad Mike is enthusiastic about the project to say the least, as we probably all should be given the look of this thing and the (likely) V8 power. “Lanzante has a reputation for creating some incredible cars. Being a proud kiwi, I’m inspired to push this McLaren project to the absolute limit, and then take it around the world… SIDEWAYS!” Madmac will return to the UK in 100 days, just in time for its Goodwood reveal. You’re sure not going to miss it…

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• Lanzante announces epic McLaren P1 Spider
• McLaren celebrates 10 years of P1

[Arsecati]

I mean........ cool?

To be honest, I don't even know why I'm commenting......... I've just woken up.......... maybe I need a bit more time to work out what it is I just read.

[Jon_S_Rally]

Sounds like there will be two McLaren drift cars unveiled this year then, as Sultan Al Qassimi is also building one, albeit from a 12C.

You have to admire the drifting community. They certainly know how to put on a show.

[ian_c_uk]

Looks great, and great to have it confirmed that Mike is attending GFOS.

I was hoping he would be bringing the 787D though!

https://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/modern/mad-mikes...

Maybe he will bring both....

[C5_Steve]

It'll certainly look absolutely bonkers going sideways. Looking forward to seeing it driven in anger.

[Discendo Discimus]

Incredible, can't wait to watch it scream up the hill sideways.

Mad Mike never fails to push boundaries and build some really cool stuff.

[smithyithy]

Still remember being stood about 30 feet away from his RX7 last year as he did donuts before pulling back into the paddock - smoke, rubber and flames all over the place

[nismo48]

smithyithy said:

Still remember being stood about 30 feet away from his RX7 last year as he did donuts before pulling back into the paddock - smoke, rubber and flames all over the place

Proper stuff

[Common Porpoise]

This could be very cool indeed. The Lanzante P1s are sublime. Hopefully they will have the time to test it and get it properly set up. The Lamborghini Madbul a few years back wasnt quite ready... fingers crossed no fires this time round!

[smilo996]

A fully exposed arse like a baboon on heat. Front wheels with 89deg turning. Mad camber and oversized rear rubber.
Great.

[spikyone]

Agree with everyone else, this should be awesome. Lanzante are always one of my favourite stands to visit at FoS, their cars are absolutely stunning. Add in Mad Mike doing Mad Mike things and it'll be absolutely epic.