MOST EXTREME TRACK ONLY HYPERCARS

01 Ferrari FXX K Evo

Ferrari’s ‘XX’ programme really kicked off the whole ‘here’s a supercar you can’t race, can’t drive to the shops, and you’ll have to pay huge money to get one’ game. First we had the FXX, then we got the 599 XX, then the FXX K, and then this. It is the Ferrari to be seen in at a track day.

04 Pagani Huayra R

Pagani’s Zonda follow-up, the Huayra, had all of its predecessor’s jewel-like design and supercar madness, but the twin-turbo V12 engine never quite tingled your ears like the old naturally aspirated V12 did. Pagani’s response? Lob a 6.0litre V12 into the back, completely free of turbos.

07 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12

Here’s Lamborghini’s answer to the Huayra R and T50S: the Essenza SCV12. The 6.5-litre madman in the middle kicks out 819bhp, which is sent to a six-speed sequential gearbox that’s a stressed member of the chassis – literally integral to the strength of the whole car.

02 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro

Aston Martin, like Ferrari, has produced front- and mid-engined track-only hypercars. There was the Vulcan, which was part One-77, part heat-seeking missile, and then there’s this: the track-only version of the Valkyrie, which is supposed to be an F1 car for the road. Only 40 will be built.

05 Brabham BT62

Unlike most of the carbon-tubbed hyper-exotica on this list, the Brabham is old school. Its chassis is a steel spaceframe. The engine is a nat-asp V8 good for 700bhp. Apparently it generates a colossal 1,200kg of downforce at just 125mph, meaning it could drive on the ceiling.

08 Porsche 935

A slight change of pace, this: the 935 is almost the sensible track-only hypercar. Mostly because although it hasn’t got any headlights and the wheels are dressed up in aero covers, you can tell it’s based distantly on a 911. A 991 GT2 RS, to be exact.

03 McLaren Senna GTR

The McLaren F1 GTR was the racing version of the 241mph three-seater. Woking then revived the initials for a track-only version of the P1 hybrid supercar. And it brought them back for an even faster, more furious evolution of the circuitfocused Senna. Got it? Good.

06 GMA T50S Niki Lauda

The track-only version of Gordon Murray’s T50 fan car actually generated so much downforce at first, GMA had to peg it back a bit so the car was drivable by mere mortals. All 25 get a Cosworth V12 even more rabid than the road car’s, wringing out 725 quite glorious-sounding horsepower.

09 Bugatti Bolide

Bugatti’s idea of a lightweight track-only hypercar, Bolide – which translates as ‘racing car’ – has the quad-turbo W16 engine from the Chiron, clothed in a size zero carbon suit. Despite an engine that weighs more than a Caterham, the whole car weighs just 1,450kg.