The automotive world has witnessed a remarkable milestone with the McMurtry Spéirling PURE, a hyper-track car that has redefined the limits of speed and performance. On April 29th, 2024, during a routine private testing session, this marvel of British engineering achieved the outright fastest lap ever recorded at the historic Castle Combe Circuit in Wiltshire, England. Driven by McMurtry’s development driver, Max Chilton, the Spéirling PURE clocked an astonishing lap time of 54.559 seconds—an achievement that underscores the car’s cutting-edge capabilities and the relentless pursuit of excellence by McMurtry Automotive.
Castle Combe Circuit: A Historic Setting for a New Record
Castle Combe Circuit, often hailed as the prettiest village in England, has a rich racing heritage spanning over seven decades. The 1.85-mile track is known for its challenging layout, featuring a mix of fast corners, a blind crest, and two technical chicanes. The circuit’s picturesque surroundings and demanding nature make it a favorite among racing enthusiasts and professionals alike.
For McMurtry Automotive, Castle Combe holds a special significance. Located just 30 minutes from their headquarters, the circuit is regarded as the brand’s ‘home circuit,’ where extensive durability testing has been conducted since 2021. The strong bond between McMurtry and Castle Combe has made this record-breaking lap even more meaningful, marking the first time a lap time has been publicly released by the company.
A Record-Breaking Performance
The McMurtry Spéirling PURE, driven by Max Chilton, obliterated the previous records at Castle Combe, surpassing the outright fastest race lap record by 4.037 seconds—a record previously held by an F3 car since 2021. Moreover, the Spéirling PURE was nearly 10 seconds faster than the GT3 lap record set by a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 in 2022. These staggering figures highlight the exceptional performance capabilities of the Spéirling PURE, especially considering that this lap was achieved while the car was running at only 80% power with a 155 mph speed limit.
Max Chilton, who also holds the record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, expressed his excitement over this achievement, particularly given the personal connection to Castle Combe. “Everyone wants bragging rights at their local circuit, and even running at 80% power and with a 155mph speed limit, we’ve knocked 4 seconds off the outright track record. This demonstrates the potential in the car for our customers to achieve the same at their local or favorite circuits,” Chilton remarked.
Engineering Excellence: The McMurtry Spéirling PURE
The McMurtry Spéirling PURE is not just another hyper-track car; it represents the pinnacle of British innovation and engineering design. Handbuilt with precision, the Spéirling PURE is equipped with a unique downforce-on-demand system that provides exceptional grip and stability right from 0 mph. This revolutionary system, combined with a 1000bhp electric powertrain, allows the Spéirling PURE to offer selectable performance drive modes, ranging from GT3 to F1-level pace.
Powered by high-performance Molicel lithium-ion cells, the battery pack of the Spéirling PURE ensures consistent and reliable power delivery, enabling the car to achieve record-breaking performance on some of the world’s most challenging circuits. The Spéirling PURE is available for order worldwide, starting at £895k plus taxes and delivery—a price that reflects the unparalleled engineering and craftsmanship that goes into each vehicle.
The Road Ahead: A Global Testing Campaign
Following the record-breaking lap at Castle Combe, McMurtry Automotive has announced plans to continue testing and verifying increased power modes under different use cases throughout 2024 and 2025. As the test program progresses towards the 100% power and 100% downforce settings, further record attempts will be made at renowned circuits around the world.
The next stop for McMurtry and Max Chilton is the USA, where they will compete at Laguna Seca in the reverse corkscrew hill climb on August 10th and 11th, 2024. This event will see the original Goodwood record-holding Spéirling and Chilton push the boundaries of performance once again, showcasing the remarkable capabilities of McMurtry’s fan car technology.
McMurtry’s Vision: Redefining Motorsport Innovation
Founded on a passion for motorsport innovation, McMurtry Automotive has ambitious goals to become one of the world’s most prestigious and long-standing automotive brands. The company’s mission is to make record-breaking performance accessible to track driving enthusiasts while reviving the legendary fan car technology and restoring the passion for small and lightweight cars.
Thomas Yates, Managing Director of McMurtry Automotive, reflected on the significance of the Castle Combe achievement, stating, “This is a fun milestone to achieve. It’s not every day you get to see a car and driver go so much faster than what’s gone before. Having tested at Castle Combe for years, it was about time we showed what the car can do around our local circuit.”
As McMurtry continues to push the boundaries of performance and innovation, the Spéirling PURE stands as a testament to what can be achieved when engineering excellence meets a passion for motorsport. The record-breaking lap at Castle Combe is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey for McMurtry Automotive and their fans worldwide.
