Laguna Seca Reverse Corkscrew HILLCLIMB RECORD - McMurtry Spéirling Fan Car (Goodwood Record Holder)

Driving the World's most famous corner the wrong way!

It was McMurtry’s dynamic debut in the USA as part of a suite of car week activities

Goodwood Festival of Speed record holding combination Max Chilton and the McMurtry Spéirling were in action here.

Old Hillclimb record surpassed by 6 seconds (Previous record set by Lotus Type 77 F1 car), 28.6s vs 34.69s.

New record set on shorter 2024 layout, 21.958s, during the top 3 shootout

The unique fan downforce system draws power from the bespoke McMurtry battery system incorporating high performance Molicel lithium-ion cells
The McMurtry Spéirling PURE hyper-track car starts at £895k + taxes & delivery. (Equivalent approx $US 1.142m)

The British built McMurtry Spéirling electric fan car claimed two records and maintained its 100% win rate in competition at the ‘Laguna Seca Reverse Corkscrew Hillclimb’ on Sun 11th August.

It’s the same hyper-track car and driver combination which holds the outright record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Max Chilton, former F1 and Indycar driver, was at the wheel for the two day event as part of the Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion.

This event was also McMurtry’s US dynamic debut, a country home to a number of existing McMurtry customers who are looking forward to test driving the prototypes that the team have bought here for car week.

The first Hillclimb record beaten by McMurtry was the longer layout used at previous events. Max Chilton and the McMurtry Spéirling achieved 28.6s compared to the previous record set by a 1976 Lotus Type 77 Formula One Car at 34.69s. The 6 seconds advantage was achieved using the unique McMurtry fan downforce system to enhance grip coupled with the instant torque of the 1000bhp electric powertrain.

The McMurtry Spéirling also set a new record on the revised shorter layout, introduced for 2024. A 21.958s was achieved in the top 3 shootout, where timing strips were installed to record the rapid ascents from many competitors. Second place finisher was a 1967 Ford Falcon race car with a 29.004s and third place was a 2022 Ferrari SF90 with a 29.822.

McMurtry are using the coming weeks primarily for private customer test drives and also showcasing the cars in public at a number of events:

The Motorlux party on Wed 14th Aug at the Monterey Jet Centre. 17.00-22.00.
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, on Fri 16th Aug. 9.00-16.00.
Demo Laps on Laguna Seca Full Circuit, Sat 17th Aug, 11.50-12.00.
L'Auberge Carmel, Sun 18th Aug 9.00-22.00


The Reverse Corkscrew Hillclimb uses the legendary Corkscrew corner plus turns 11, 10 and 9, driven the wrong way to normal racing. The Laguna Hillclimb was inspired by the spectacle and variety of entrant’s the Goodwood Festival of Speed and was started 3 years ago.
McMurtry laid down a fresh record on the new shorter layout and beat the old hillclimb record during a specially organised run over the respective course.

The McMurtry Spéirling generates 4,400 pounds of downforce from 0mph, using onboard fans, to give hard to believe dynamic performance. Using advance P50B battery cells from Molicel, the customer version of the cars will perform 20mins of track running at GT3 pace before recharging again in 20mins. With the potential to run much faster, as demonstrated by this and other records achieved.

Max Chilton said “The Corkscrew is one of the most famous corner’s in the world. Normally it’s a blind approach on entry, so in the reverse hillclimb it’s unsighted on the exit. You have to shoot up the 18 metres elevation change and then hope you’ve picked the right line as you launch over the top. Luckily I had fan downforce to help keep me stuck to the ground. It’s been quite a special experience to compete in and set a record in the Laguna Seca Hillclimb”

The McMurtry Spéirling is the basis for an even more capable track car, which is now available to order - the McMurtry Spéirling PURE.

The McMurtry Spéirling PURE utilises the same unique downforce-on-demand system to provide exceptional downforce and grip right from 0mph. The 1000bhp electric powertrain, offers selectable performance drive modes from GT3 to F1 and Indycar levels pace.

The next driving demonstration will be back at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Motorsports Reunion on is on Saturday 17th August at 11.50-12.00. Two cars will take to the track piloted by McMurtry Managing Director Thomas Yates, and experienced historic racer, Philip Kadoorie, to show that this seemingly unattainable performance level is still accessible by normal driving enthusiasts.

Thomas Yates, Managing Director of McMurtry Automotive, said “The Reverse Corkscrew Hillclimb has been such an enjoyable way to showcase the cars in motion for the first time ever on US soil. The level of excitement from everyone here at Laguna Seca has made it very memorable. You’ll be seeing plenty more of McMurtry in the US over the coming years.”