The McLaren Solus GT triumphed in the Shootout finals held on the last day, June 16, at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.
The Shootout is the most popular event at the Goodwood Festival, a competitive race that sees participants sprinting full throttle over a 1.86km hillclimb course. With its overwhelming performance and fearless speed, the Solus GT captured the win in the final round, adding a meaningful conclusion to the 2023 Goodwood Festival, which marked McLaren’s 60th anniversary.
The Solus GT made a remarkable debut on the first day of the event, June 13. In the finals, McLaren’s racer Marvin Kirchhöfer took the wheel of the Solus GT and charged through the 1.86km hillclimb course in 45.342 seconds, clinching the victory. This marks the second win for McLaren at the Goodwood Festival Shootout event, following their success in 2021.
The Solus GT is a reality-based interpretation of a McLaren concept car featured in the virtual racing video game “Gran Turismo Sport”, with only 25 units produced. Powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine, the Solus GT delivers an astonishing 840 horsepower and a peak torque of 67.2kg·m (equivalent to 650Nm in Europe). With a weight under 1,000kg and a design focused on maximizing aerodynamic efficiency, the powerful powertrain together yields incredible driving performance.
Beyond the hillclimb racing, the Solus GT was also showcased at the McLaren House throughout the 2023 Goodwood Festival. Meanwhile, the new supercar 750S, known for its lightweight and powerful performance among McLaren production models, made a dazzling debut on the official stage, participating in exhibition and weekend racing.
Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive, stated, “The Solus GT set a milestone at the Goodwood Festival by winning the Shootout finals. This victory holds special significance as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of McLaren and the 30th anniversary of the Goodwood Festival. Winning is an impressive achievement for both the Solus GT and the 750S, following their impressive debut at the McLaren House and official hillclimb event.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr