Glad to see the Donkervoort P24 RS video doing pretty well on YT - up to over 400k views in a few days. You never know how the algorithm will treat something really unusual but I’m glad it’s getting attention and some much-deserved recognition.
The basics are: Front engine, rear drive, 780kg dry and up to 600bhp from the dry sump 3.5-litre twin turbo V6 as seen in Ford GT. Smaller turbos for response, unique intake, 3D printed plenum, exhaust manifolds etc. Plus, tubular chassis reinforced with carbon fibre side panels created by Donkervoort’s own ‘Ex-core’ process, which has now been adopted by Toyota in WEC and several F1 teams.
It’s a wicked little thing and even ABS and power steering are options! Manual ‘box, obvs. So much power it makes a dry road feel wet if you like sliding around, but also generates loads of grip when you want to be precise. Donkervoort claim 2.3G lateral load.
It’s madly expensive (€300k plus options) but only 150 to be made and they’d sold nearly 90 when we visited. Always been fascinated by this company and really happy to have experienced their wildest car yet.
Oh, final video clip shows Revuelto SV testing at the ‘ring. We were nearby so dropped in… Big Lambo looked to be going very, very fast. But oddly quiet.
#supercar #donkervoort #lamborghini #fordgt #p24rs
A few pics from Valhalla launch in Navarra, Spain. Didn’t know quite what to expect from this thing as it sits in a space between 849/Revuelto and then the new breed of hypercars like F80 and W1. So… a pricey Revuelto rival or a bargain F80-chaser?
In the end I think it does sit in a unique place. The cool prototype-style driving position and general feel of the car is definitely tipping towards F80, but it’s a bit less extreme and intense (most cars are!). No doubt it does feel a cut above something like the 849 though, even if in pure performance terms they are inevitably pretty close. I really, really enjoyed it. Lovely mix of precision and progression on track, wickedly fast road car with plenty of turbo noises and drama but also feels really useable and complete. Which does make the lack of any luggage space even more of a bummer…
Still a few tricks to learn from Ferrari - for example, the new DCT ‘box just doesn’t have the speed and excitement of 849 (and defo not F80, which sets a new standard for dual-clutch ‘boxes). But it’s a really impressive car in lots of ways. And whilst you inevitably get drawn into like-for-like comparisons and the finer points of dynamics, some cars just have an intangible quality that just says ‘yep, this is a proper car.’ The Valhalla is one of them.
Last pic is the car resting after a, um, spirited drive back to the hotel. The Citroen was a senior member of the Aston team’s hire car. Which I buzzed at quite a high speed by accident. Oops. Still, probably woke him up after a long day of answering stupid questions from journalists…
#astonmartin #astonvalhalla #supercar #ferrarif80
Aston Martin Valhalla. Super sophisticated plug-in hybrid with flat-plane crank twin turbocharged V8, three electric motors and hence e4WD. So much to discuss but as ever it’s all for nothing if it isn’t a great thing to jump in and skid around. Luckily, it is. So, here’s what that looks like when the tyres are already mostly dead. Different animal on fresh rubber and particularly on the Cup 2s. Superbly precise and incredible mix of locked-down control and on-limit progression. But nevertheless, this is quite a fun way to drive it, too.
Full video review on @topgear YouTube channel
#astonmartin #astonvalhalla #valhalla #supercar #hypercar
This is not an ad! Although it might as well be… After all the work done on the DS - from new steering rack to rebuilt gearbox, new brakes, new rad and a whole host of other bits - the final (for now) upgrade was a new set of @vredestein Sprint Classic tyres. And OMG, the difference its made is HUGE. The car was on the correct, but very ancient, tyres and they were cracked and well past their best. As a tyre geek it should be no surprise that really old rubber is a Very Bad Thing, but I was a bit shocked on the way home. Ride is now miles better, steering more consistent and the whole car just feels more together and fluid. From a pure driving experience point of view it’s made more of a difference than all the other stuff combined. Mad, but true.
And yes, you do have to remove the rear wing to take off the wheel. But it’s secured by one bolt and only takes a few seconds. And thanks to the clever suspension you can even drive it on three wheels if you really want. Anyway, can’t recommend the Vredesteins enough at this stage. Next up… the Nürburgring! No, not really. Just more cruising around looking cool as fook. 😂
#tyres #tires #vredstein citroends
A break from the scheduled 1000bhp+ hypercar content for something completely different. This is a Defender 130 V8 and… it’s actually pretty awesome. 500bhp, 7 seats and doesn’t try to be sporty at all, which is as it should be. Loan coincided with visitors from the US and so I mostly drove it fully loaded with humans of various sizes and lots of stuff. Mega family machine, although it is HUGE, and reminded me that maybe we could scale back a bit from passenger cars that weigh 2735kg!
Anyway, having said I enjoyed its lack of ‘SUV’ faux sportiness, I still think they should make a 130 OCTA. Call it the Dakar Support Edition. I’m sure the whole family would appreciate getting three feet of air on school runs, for example. I know I would. Although my entire business plan for JLR could probably be summed up as ‘OCTA everything.’
#defender #octa #offroad
More raw sounds from the @gordonmurrayautomotive T.50S
Goes without saying that this was a really special evening. Huge thanks to all the team there for trusting me with the car and encouraging me to enjoy it properly. Also got a ride with @dario_franchitti , who was smooth as can be and sooooo fast. Won’t forget that in a hurry. Video out today @topgear YouTube. Honestly, we should probably release a 20 minute podcast that’s just T.50S sounds…
#gmat50 #gma #gordonmurray #gmat50s
Quick phone clip of the @gordonmurrayautomotive T.50S in Bahrain. Tracking camera was just being adjusted and @a3.rud started to film with his phone. Seemed rude not to give it a few revs….
Video out today on @topgear YouTube channel.
#gmat50s #gordonmurray #gmat50 #supercar
Great shots by @gregpajo of the new Corvette ZR1X for @topgear
The car itself is absurdly potent - 1250bhp - but shockingly cohesive as a package and laps with stunning speed but also plenty of reassurance. Even better, it’s not dulled down to allow the ease of use. Still a really good balance and proper adjustability. Likes to exit with those fat rear tires (sic) lit-up just a bit and fronts helping to stabilise the car.
Feels a bit less natural when going for full oversteer style points… but so do all cars with a front e-axle (although Revuelto is probably the best).
Anyway, the truth is that the ZR1X literally obliterates similarly-priced competition and feels faster than 849 Testarossa and Revuelto. The engineering and tuning to get it to this point really are bloody impressive. And even if you don’t give a crap about 1/4-mile times (I do not), the ‘Ring lap time in 6.49:275 isn’t too shabby. Recorded by a very fast engineer, but not a top level factory race driver. I’m sure it could go faster still. And yes the GT3 RS does INCREDIBLE things with much less power, but you’ve got to admire they came to Porsche’s backyard and did the numbers.
Special mention to the VAST @alconbrakes (10-piston front, 6-piston rear, 420mm carbon ceramic discs all around). They get a hell of a workout - 2-tons and 1250bhp - and stand-up to the task.
Anyway, for sub-$250k even with all the trick bits the ZR1X is basically f**king mad. And it’s too heavy. But then again the new RS5 weighs 2355kg. So… who knows anymore!?
Video live on @topgear YT. Stressful day with lots to do and the rain rolling in, but bloody good fun with Pajo and @charliebrose
The End
#corvettezr1x #corvettezr1 #hypercar #supercar #corvette
Just @96f1champ and I standing between the Lotus 49 that Graham Hill won the 1968 F1 championship with and, erm, my Porsche 996.3. Which has yet to win any championships, except maybe ‘World’s Biggest Pain in the Arse’ for @litchfieldmotors
These shots were taken @birchgatwick on a brilliant night raising money for @thehalowproject , which is a charity very close to Damon’s heart as one of the founder families. Halow helps young people with learning disabilities and autism to lead a life of purpose.
It was fantastic to help host the event and interview Damon and @tomchilton (who, like all racing drivers, needs very few questions. About one every 20 minutes will do. Bloody funny, too!). Special mention to @nicolashamilton who made a surprise guest appearance and spoke brilliantly about his motorsport career and the challenges he’s faced over the years.
Mega night and speaking to a real life F1 champion was really, really cool.
#f1 #lotus49 #lotusf1 #damonhill #porsche
📸 @fc24_photography@momentumsocialagency
