Street-legal F1 car to hit the road

Freestream T1 offers 480bhp in a 465Kg package

A pair of ex-McLaren F1 engineers are set to produce a street-legal F1 car called the Freestream T1. Powered by a 2006-regulations style 2.4-litre V8 and weighing some 465Kg, the light weight conferred by its carbon-fibre construction is said to result in a power-to-weight ratio of over 1,000bhp per tonne.

Following a year of design and development, founders Ben Scott-Geddes and Graham Halstead expect to launch the £150,000 car later this year.

Developed for road and track, the ultra lightweight, 480bhp two-seater will offer a near F1 performance experience comparable to that of a Le Mans prototype with highly resolved aerodynamics and chassis making the vehicle predictably safe and responsive to driver inputs.

Interest has already been expressed by half a dozen customers privileged to preview the project and keen to join what will be an exclusive club since the company will only make 25 cars a year for the entire planet. With the first prototype nearing completion the two engineers have moved into brand-new premises that form part of a new automotive business park located at Farnham in Surrey.

Commenting on the inspiration for the Freestream T1, Ben Scott-Geddes said: “We wanted to demonstrate our ability to design from scratch a no-compromise but usable and reliable sports car with the whole vehicle meticulously engineered from the ground up, so as to offer customers a truly unique experience with a full aerodynamic performance package which at present can only be found in a high formula racecar.”

Graham Halstead said: “As well as offering a unique racecar performance experience we were equally concerned to make the car as safe as possible. The result is an extremely stable aerodynamic platform to complement its feather weight of 465Kg and compact powertrain. The driver and passenger will experience extremely rapid acceleration as well as 3g cornering and braking performance.”

“Our aim is to move the performance envelope up to current sports-prototype levels thereby setting a new benchmark for a road car exemplified by its agility and handling abilities,” said Scott-Geddes. “We’ve spoken to enthusiastic owners who have become frustrated and bored with their regular sports and race cars, whose potential is heavily restricted through constrained engineering and race formula regulations. In that respect we’ve torn up the rule book to give customers what they ultimately desire: a road car with an uncompromised yet safe performance experience.”

Further details will be announced closer to the launch -- and if you want one, check the link below.