The Herald - The Herald Magazine
High five go above and beyond
ALL good supercars must-have performance credentials and so it’s hardly surprising that manufacturers have long had the bright idea to produce examples focused solely on eyewatering speed and spine-warping handling, with no compromises for the sake of an MOT.
Not only are these cars not able to go to the shops but they can’t race either as they are built beyond the realms of any rule book.
These are the best track-day indulgences for the world’s elite speed freaks . . .
McLaren-Mercedes SLR 722 GT
The SLR was closer to a grand tourer than a supercar but the hardcore 722 version helped the car on its way to the apex.
Then came the GT, a track day car with an exclusive race series for its owners. The project was ultimately quite a short-lived endeavour, arriving just as the last decade’s financial crisis hit everyone’s pockets. However, the 670bhp, 1,390kg brute made a lasting impact on its drivers.
Ferrari FXX K
Otherwise known as the ‘oh bother’, this is the melting pot between Ferrari’s storied past and the changes it will make in the future. The legendary Ferrari V12 is combined with an F1-style electric motor system for a grand total of 1,036bhp.
It will hit 60mph in two and a half seconds and go on to trouble the 220mph barrier. But this car is not a drag racer by any means; it was built for the challenges of world-class racing circuits, and that is where the 40 ultra-rich owners get to enjoy their cars.
Pagani Zonda R
Not so long ago a six-minute 47-second lap time at the Nurburgring was unattainable for any car available to the public. It was that very lap time that was a key selling point for Pagani’s Zonda R in 2009, however.
The Zonda R shared very little with the car it took its name from; it was a pure-bred track weapon and something of a test bed for the Huayra that came in 2011.
McLaren P1 GTR
If you’ve ever seen McLaren’s base in Woking, you’ll know exactly what to expect from a track car project where its engineers have been able to let their hair down.
McLaren’s signature 3.8-litre engine and carbon tub are exploited to their fullest in the P1 GTR, with a power figure pushing 1,000bhp and race car levels of downforce.
Lamborghini Sesto Elemento
The ‘sixth element’ is essentially a Gallardo on a diet that picked up a seriously bad attitude somewhere around the 100th salad.
Debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, this car isn’t as racing-inspired as its other track-only counterparts, from a visual perspective but with a 562bhp engine borrowed from the Gallardo Superleggera, and a curb weight of 999kg, it’s no slouch.