McMurtry Speirling
Top Gear test track record also broken
It was also announced that the car broke the Top Gear test track lap record by 3.1 seconds during an upside-down driving trial at McMurtry Automotive’s headquarters.
McMurtry Automotive took a surprising step by driving its all-electric hyper truck, “Spearling,” upside down. Using a proprietary “Downforce on Demand” fan system, Spearling was able to “stick” to the floor of a custom-built rotating rig. The technology demonstration took place at McMurtry’s headquarters in Gloucestershire, UK, and was attended by employees and independent judges.
The company also announced that the same car had broken the lap record at the Top Gear Test Track in Surrey, England, by 3.1 seconds. The previous record was held by the 2004 Renault R24 Formula 1 car. Spearing also holds the outright record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hill Climb and the lap record at the Laguna Seca Corkscrew Hill Climb.
The Spearing was conceived by the late Sir David McMurtry, one of Britain’s most successful businessmen, who passed away in December 2024 after witnessing the company’s many successes. Following various test programs, the Spearing is scheduled for delivery in 2026 in a limited run of 100 units.
Delivers maximum downforce even when stationary
The Downforce on Demand system, installed by Spearing, uses a fan system to generate the highest level of downforce even when the car is stationary. The photo shows Thomas Yates in an upside-down position.
It has long been argued that high-performance racing cars such as Formula 1 cars could theoretically drive upside down due to the levels of downforce they generate at high speeds, but this has never been attempted before as it was considered too far-fetched.
Conventional cars rely on aerodynamics to generate downforce only at high speeds. But unlike other hypercars and race cars, the Spearing, equipped with McMurtry’s patented “Downforce on Demand” fan system, can accelerate, brake and turn with significantly more grip, especially at low speeds. Crucially, this downforce is available even when the car is stationary.
Our test driver, Thomas Yates, managing director of McMurtry Automotive, slowly drove the Spearing up a ramp and onto a specially designed rig, which then rotated the platform floor, flipping the Spearing completely upside down.
Downforce on Demand created a vacuum under the floor that was strong enough to hold Spearing upside down with a force that overcame gravity. After the car was completely upside down, Yates drove Spearing forward without any support. After completing the record attempt, Yates commented on his successful upside-down run:
“It was a fantastic day at HQ today. Driving upside down with your seatbelt fastened was a totally surreal experience (laughs). The 2000kg of downforce generated by the fan system is truly amazing. We once again showed why our spearing continues to break records all over the world.”
“This demonstration was an exciting proof of concept using a small, specialized rig. It’s likely just the beginning of what’s possible. With a longer inverted course and the right tunnel, it could go even further. My heartfelt congratulations and thanks go to the entire team at McMurtry Automotive, especially the engineers who designed the vehicle and fan system.”
