Top Gear puts Bugatti Veyron against McLaren F1

By Zack Newmark
July 3, 2009 6:47 am
Filed Under: Bugatti, European, McLaren, Supercars

Last week, Top Gear debuted its second episode of the new season, featuring a mile-long drag race between two of the most sought after supercars in recent history.  Behind the wheel of the 1001 horsepower Bugatti Veyron: Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond.  Behind the wheel of the 627 horsepower McLaren F1: The Stig.  The race took place on a very dry, closed stretch of road in Abu Dhabi.

If you just look at the power figures, you might think that the Veyron would outright crush the F1.  However, the F1 weighs significantly less than the Veyron, roughly 1651 lbs. (749 kg)

We won't spoil the surprise, so watch the full video here and tell us if the race turned out the way you thought it would.

Comments (page 1 of 3)

kimbo
July 3, 2009 11:58 am
no way he put full throttle on veyron. This thing would smoke F1.

scratchy996
July 3, 2009 12:02 pm
to make the race more exciting Hammond didn't use the Veyron's Launch Control. would have been boring if the Veyron went ahead too quick.

super_car_muscle_man
July 5, 2009 5:50 pm
yup, your right, or maybe he did but no launch control. veyron 0-62mph = 2.5sec f1 0-62 = 2.9sec and quite clearly in the vid, the maclaren would have hit 60mph quicker, which isnt what teh figures would suggest. still nice drag race when i saw it on tv though!

N20_Purge
July 3, 2009 11:59 am
This is so 5 days ago. I knew the Bugatti would win from the start. The gap would have been bigger if that Spoiler was pushed down. It was doing was causing drag.

Geefiasco
July 3, 2009 12:04 pm
SLR McClaren 772 vs the Murcielago LP670 was brilliant. The SLR destroyed the Lambo! Hypercar royalty at its best!

randomuser
July 3, 2009 12:23 pm
that Merc engine in the SLR is a monster. can't wait to see it in action in a lighter car, like the next Zonda.

Geefiasco
July 3, 2009 1:04 pm
Yeah, it's a monster. That Supercharged V8 rumble is one of the most beautiful engine sounds ever.

Geefiasco
July 5, 2009 7:49 am
Yes, destroyed!!!!!!!!!!

super_car_muscle_man
July 5, 2009 5:40 pm
@Geefiasco: totally agree with the sound comment. it is the best V8 burble sounding engine ever. i heard a brabus slr once and i almost wet my pants. its monstrous when it was just rolling past doing probably 20-30mph.

Kepe
July 3, 2009 12:06 pm
I was kind of hoping that the F1 would have won. It was my favorite super car when I was a kid :p

eas722
July 3, 2009 12:12 pm
F1 is still my favorite. I really wish McLaren had won, getting old *sigh*...

igabbmw
July 3, 2009 1:24 pm
I Agree with you... having the money I'll have a McLaren... I'm sure it is faster around a track then the Veyron.

randomuser
July 3, 2009 12:13 pm
The Top Gear guys like the F1 and the Veyron so much , they are ignoring the fact that the Aero SSC is the fastest road going car today and the Dauer 962 LM was the fastest road car of the '90s (0-62 in 2.6 sec, 251 mph)

Also, WCF you got the weight of the F1 wrong , it should be arround 1100kg depending on the version.

janobr
July 3, 2009 12:31 pm
It is, the 749kg in the article is the difference in weight not the weight it self, Veyron is 1888 KG, is the 749kg difference would put the F1 at around 1139KG

Dewd
July 3, 2009 3:14 pm
Well the Top Gear guys are a bit special, that's probably why we all love them. I don't think they count the Aero SSC because it's not a car you can use every day, it is American and it is terribly ugly..

loyo
July 3, 2009 9:25 pm
Amen Dewd, I couldn't have said it in better words

Prince_Ash
July 3, 2009 12:29 pm
saw this episode last sunday when it came out, was hillarious :) very entertaining but i knew the bugatti would win lol even though i like the F1 better.

sideskraper
July 3, 2009 1:22 pm
lightweight vs power. weight wins the first leg, power will eventually prevail. duh.

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