Top Gear puts Bugatti Veyron against McLaren F1

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.

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kimbo

no way he put full throttle on veyron. This thing would smoke F1.

July 3, 2009 1:58 pm

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3 replies

scratchy996

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.

July 3, 2009 2:02 pm

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Pentium

exactly!

July 5, 2009 5:59 pm

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super_car_muscle_man

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!

July 5, 2009 7:50 pm

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N20_Purge

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.

July 3, 2009 1:59 pm

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Geefiasco

SLR McClaren 772 vs the Murcielago LP670 was brilliant. The SLR destroyed the Lambo! Hypercar royalty at its best!

July 3, 2009 2:04 pm

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5 replies

randomuser

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.

July 3, 2009 2:23 pm

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Geefiasco

Yeah, it's a monster. That Supercharged V8 rumble is one of the most beautiful engine sounds ever.

July 3, 2009 3:04 pm

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Raptor_

Destroyed?LOL

July 4, 2009 1:01 pm

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Geefiasco

Yes, destroyed!!!!!!!!!!

July 5, 2009 9:49 am

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super_car_muscle_man

@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.

July 5, 2009 7:40 pm

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Kepe

I was kind of hoping that the F1 would have won. It was my favorite super car when I was a kid :p

July 3, 2009 2:06 pm

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Beybaba

F1 is still my favorite. I really wish McLaren had won, getting old *sigh*...

July 3, 2009 2:12 pm

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1 reply

igabbmw

I Agree with you... having the money I'll have a McLaren... I'm sure it is faster around a track then the Veyron.

July 3, 2009 3:24 pm

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randomuser

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.

July 3, 2009 2:13 pm

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3 replies

janobr

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

July 3, 2009 2:31 pm

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Dewd

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..

July 3, 2009 5:14 pm

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loyo

Amen Dewd, I couldn't have said it in better words

July 3, 2009 11:25 pm

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Prince_Ash

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.

July 3, 2009 2:29 pm

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sideskraper

lightweight vs power. weight wins the first leg, power will eventually prevail. duh.

July 3, 2009 3:22 pm

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FloPoe

the episode was really great. i don?t care how much faster the veyron is, I would always take the F1.

July 3, 2009 3:58 pm

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MusTang

As i understood on street race, i mean from traffic light to traffic light F1 will win Veyron. But on quarter mile Veyron beat the F1. So i think they are equal, just depend on where these cars are raceing. I don't think Veyron or F1 can beat Lotus Exige on the mountain S-type roads.

July 3, 2009 4:05 pm

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1 reply

scratchy996

the Veyron is faster in a drag race either way if you use it's launch control.

July 3, 2009 4:31 pm

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ericthedog

I would still take the mclaren over the veyron anyday .

July 3, 2009 5:03 pm

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Carbon_Dew

2 different breed of car, both insanely quick... My personal favourite, the Veyron!

July 3, 2009 5:36 pm

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tsiebrand

What meaning do those back lights on the bugatti have going crazy??

July 3, 2009 5:44 pm

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2 replies

adz612

LED lights. Can't explain why, but it's something to do with the camera catching frames and LED's not emitting a steady stream of light. Sorry I never really paid much attention in physics class.

July 3, 2009 7:22 pm

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adz612

OK to cut a long story short, to the naked eye, LED's show up as a steady stream of light, but in reality the light is a steady rapid stream of pulses. therefore because a camera constantly records frame by frame, the LED's will always show up flashing. Sorry to bore the hell outta you, but yeah that's the simplified version. P.S. I'd have the McLaren over the Veyron anyday.

July 4, 2009 3:38 am

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eme7

jojo suck it veyron gay car!!! ...whit taht power shoulde done better after 15 year 8Lt...4 turbos and still no match for that P80 BMW engine, what a crap of VW or Bugatty..jajaja

July 3, 2009 6:15 pm

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5 replies

kimbo

relax and take a breath, kid. Maybe you will feel better!

July 3, 2009 8:59 pm

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scratchy996

lol

July 4, 2009 9:41 am

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devperson

The grammar/spelling Nazis would have a field day with you!

July 4, 2009 8:12 pm

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CSL

Use English! Please!

July 5, 2009 4:20 am

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thamzn

My word, how did they let you out?

December 2, 2009 2:10 pm

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mickey_f1

Just get these two on a race track and we'll see the F1 kick ass!

July 3, 2009 7:13 pm

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q8lambo

the SV would have beaten the slr if it used launch control or took off the the huge wing

July 3, 2009 10:40 pm

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kinsilverarrow

comparing the power of the F1 and veyron.. its very obvious that car with more power wins... but the ultimate test for any road car is on the track(handling)... well i felt topgear missed that aspect of testing of two great cars of all time...

July 4, 2009 12:50 am

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norther

this test was pretty irelevant. any car which has more hp, in a straight line will win. a drag race is only about pure hp. though i have to admit i put my money on the mclaren. BUT.... im sure, im 100% sure on a track, the mclaren will smoke the veyron.

July 4, 2009 2:12 am

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1 reply

scratchy996

Torque wins in a drag race, HP is for top speed. they should put the f1 on the test track but then many people will be disappointed, the F1's handling wasn't stellar.

July 4, 2009 9:44 am

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thethirdjq

I applaud these guys for being able to do this with these cars ( we are looking at about 2-3 million british pounds moving down the road) and getting away with it. In my opinion - i am going with the mclaren. the increasing value of the care is there and it truly defines the driving experience (gold plating on the heat shield!). As they said, they veyron is a technological marvel, but too luxurious to me.

July 4, 2009 4:05 am

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Bristol411S3

I am amazed the Veyron didn't win by a larger gap, but then I guess the Bugatti not using launch control explains that. Also, the SKILL needed to get a great launch on the F1 is much greater. Put two average Joes in both cars and the Veyron would be miles ahead. I'd still have the McLaren though.

July 4, 2009 8:26 am

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