We all love a good drag race, and what better a drag race than one between two vehicles from brands that represent the pinnacle of performance vehicle engineering – the McLaren 600 LT and Ferrari 812 Superfast.
Let’s not forget each brand’s ties to the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1. Enzo Ferrari was rather open about the fact that the only reason Ferrari made road-cars was to fund its racing operation. McLaren, on the other hand, has been a racing team for the majority of its nearly sixty-year existence – the second oldest active Formula 1 team after – you guessed it – Ferrari. Their illustrious history includes having won 183 races, 12 Drivers’ Championships and 8 Constructors’ Championships. Let’s not forget the inimitable McLaren F1 road car, designed by South African legend and icon, Gordon Murray, and the fastest production car in the world up until the Bugatti Veyron came along in 2005.
And so, with the contextualising out of the way, here are our contenders.
The Ferrari 812 Superfast does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s a Ferrari, and its not only very fast, its super fast. Its 6,5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine is good for an astonishing 588 kW and 718 N.m, all sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed double-clutch transmission. It might have the power advantage, but at 1 800 kg, its significantly heavier than the lithe, mid-engined McLaren.
The McLaren 600LT weighs just 1 356 kg thanks to its carbon-fibre mono-cell chassis and McLaren’s fastidious, weight-saving ways. Its 3,8-litre twin-turbo V8 churns out 441 kW and 620 N.m, also send to the rear wheels via a seven-speed double-clutch transmission.
Will the McLaren’s significant weight advantage be enough to compensate for the Ferrari’s monstrous power? Take a look at the CarWow video below to see the outcome.
