Mad Mike’s MADMAC: The Ultimate McLaren P1 GTR Drift Car with a Rotary Heart!
Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up for the most audacious drift car project the world has ever seen! Mad Mike Whiddett, the legendary drift king renowned for his fearless and trailblazing builds, has teamed up with Red Bull for an unparalleled venture: transforming a McLaren P1 GTR into a drift beast, christened “MADMAC,” and powering it with a roaring rotary engine swap. The clock is ticking as Mad Mike, alongside UK McLaren wizards Lanzante, races against time to bring this wild hypercar to life in just 100 days! Check out PT1 on Mad Mike’s youtube channel below.
BUILDING A DRIFT MCLAREN — MADMAC | PT1
https://youtu.be/GsO4Yf7gPng?si=A-JYI62eHv2-G9xX
Picture this: the project kicks off with the sleek, aerodynamic bodywork of a McLaren P1 GTR, already a marvel of engineering. But that’s just the canvas. Add a Rocket Bunny body kit from Japan, fused with elements from a McLaren 650S GT3, and you get a drift car that’s out of this world. This jaw-dropping transformation is happening at Whiddett’s very own workshop in New Zealand, where the car undergoes radical modifications essential for dominating the drift scene. From a unique suspension setup to a specialized steering system designed to achieve the most extreme sideways angles, every detail is meticulously crafted for peak performance.
But here’s the kicker: the P1’s original 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine is out, making way for a 20B turbo rotary engine — a 2.0-liter three-rotor monster known for its high-revving, distinctive scream. This engineering marvel is paired with an X-track sequential gearbox and is powered by a Haltec stand-alone engine management system, delivering a symphony of power and precision that’s synonymous with Mad Mike’s iconic creations like the BADBUL Mazda RX-8. This rotary engine swap isn’t just about performance; it’s about unleashing a new level of flair and audacity into the hypercar realm.
The grand reveal of MADMAC is set for the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed, where this hypercar drift machine will make its thunderous debut. Just as they were preparing to send the car to the U.K. for Goodwood, the team encountered significant damage to the turbo housing and exhaust manifold in the last days before shipping. With just six days left, they now face the daunting task of pulling the entire car apart before re-engineering and retuning the entire exhaust and turbo system. This project is the epitome of what happens when top-tier automotive engineering collides with the unbridled creativity and boldness of a drift superstar. It’s a testament to the relentless pursuit of perfection and the sheer thrill of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of motorsports. Get ready to witness history in the making as Mad Mike and Lanzante set the stage for the wildest, most exhilarating drift hypercar ever conceived!