Drifting
Who would win in a straight battle between a Formula One car, a rallycross car, an off-road trophy truck or a drift machine? Let's find out once and for all...
Last year, we let some super-powered racing machines compete head-to-head in a drag race. This year, we've created a custom racetrack to offer an all round test of their unique features and impressive abilities. We're pitting an RB7 Formula One car against a McLaren drift hypercar, a rallycrosser and an off-road Pro4 truck. Watch the video above to find out what went down.
01
Four legendary drivers
The F1 car competes on asphalt, using downforce and slick tyres to grip the smooth surface. Show car expert Patrick Freisacher is piloting the all-conquering Red Bull Racing RB7 that won the F1 Driver's World Championship in 2011.
No stranger to F1 himself, Scott Speed is racing his Subaru rallycross car. It boasts the best acceleration of all the cars and is rapid over asphalt or loose gravel. Andrew Carlson is letting his Yokohama Ford Pro4 truck do the torquing – it's all about low-end grunt and extreme tyre tread. And then there's drift legend 'Mad' Mike Whiddett in his astonishing MADMAC – a custom-built rotary-powered, drifting McLaren P1 hypercar he's created with Lanzante and revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s designed to be both speedy and spectacular.
Patrick Freisacher – F1
- Driver: Patrick Freisacher
- Where have I seen him before? F1 and many Red Bull Racing show runs
- Car: Red Bull Racing RB7
- As seen in: Winning the 2011 F1 World Championship
- Output: 750bhp
- Weight: 635kg (1,400lbs)
Scott Speed – Rallycross
- Driver: Scott Speed
- Where have I seen him before? F1, Nitro Rallycross, GRX and NASCAR
- Car: Subaru WRX STI
- As seen in: Global Rallycross, Nitro Rallycross,
- Output: 600bhp
- Weight: 1,300kg (2,865lbs)
'Mad' Mike Whiddett – Drifting
- Driver: Mike Whiddett
- Where have I seen him before? Formula Drift, Formula D Japan and Formula D Asia
- Car: MADMAC (custom McLaren P1 drift car)
- As seen in: Goodwood Festival of Speed
- Output: 1,000bhp
- Weight: 1,225kg (2,700lbs)
Andrew Carlson – Pro4 Truck
- Driver: Andrew Carlson
- Where have I seen him before? Trophy Truck racing, snowmobile racing
- Car: Ford Pro4 Truck
- As seen in: Crandon World Championship, Off-Road Championship
- Output: 950bhp
- Weight: 2,041kg (4,500lbs)
02
A custom track to test them all
So, how to make it a fair test? We headed to the wide-open spaces of southern Texas and put together a purpose-built racetrack around the MSR Houston race course that allowed each of our vehicles to perform to their strengths: a smooth race circuit for the F1 car, an undulating track full of big corners to show off the MADMAC, a shorter, mixed-surface track for the rallycross car and an off-road shortcut that jumps back over the circuit for the truck.
Our host, custom car builder and YouTube star Emelia Hartford explains the ultimate track is designed to bring all four vehicles together in a final race to the line.
03
Testing time
In free practice, Patrick Freisacher set a high target, pulling away and setting the quickest time ahead of Scott Speed, despite the American acing the razor-sharp hairpin to take the rallycross joker lane. But then Andrew Carlson sprung a surprise, kicking up the mud as he blasted through the Texas countryside to set the fastest time of all ahead of the race.
Meanwhile, Mad Mike was in last place after delivering an awesome display of engine screams and tyres squeal. The Kiwi has the most power beneath his right foot, but with all those spinning tyres and sideways action, it was going in different directions. Could he marshall the McLaren's power to get ahead or befuddle his rivals by racing sideways in a fog of tyre smoke?
04
The ultimate race
In the main event, Carson peeled off at the start to carve his own way on the off-road route. Scott Speed was quickest off the mark, opening up an early lead, but soon caught by Patrick Freisacher, as the lighter and more powerful F1 car sprung to life. As the Austrian racer caught the American at T1, Speed peeled off for the first rallycross dirt section lap. Mad Mike was at the back, but in touch with the front-runner as he resisted the urge to light up his tyres. Carson rejoined behind him and from having been first, had his work cut out to find his way back to the front. Lucky for him, another off-road short cut was just ahead.
At the midpoint, Freisacher was comfortably out in front and hitting a top speed of 288kph on the twisty track, but he had much more road to cover as his three rivals set off on their second joker sections. Mad Mike passed Freisacher and Speed, but Carson took the lead and it was now a sprint to the line and Mad Mike pipped the big truck to take victory in the MADMAC.
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