Mad Mike Unleashes 'MadMac': A Flame-Spitting, 1,000-HP Drift Hypercar at Goodwood 2024
In 2024, ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett marks a decade of revolutionising Goodwood's drifting scene by unveiling his boldest creation, 'MadMac', in partnership with Lanzante, a leading British automotive engineering firm. This hypercar, equipped with a rotary engine and capable of delivering 1,000 horsepower, promises thrilling, flame-spitting performances.
As 'Mad Mike's' YouTube channel has documented, the Lanzante and MadLab teams have melded their extensive technical and engineering acumen to conceive this one-of-a-kind vehicle. The brainstorming sessions between Dean Lanzante and Mike at the 2023 Festival of Speed Ball sparked the creation of a bespoke McLaren. Within a tight 100-day timeframe, Mad Mike Motorsports in New Zealand and O’Gara Coach in the USA collaborated to bring this vision to life.
Dean Lanzante's team, leveraging their deep knowledge from the McLaren P1 projects, engineered a robust carbon fibre chassis enhanced by an FIA-approved roll cage. They crafted custom bodywork, including stretched P1 GTR and Lanzante-developed P1 LM panels, which gave the car a more aggressive rear and broader front arches to suit Mike’s iconic drifting manoeuvres. With the car's framework set, Mike and his crew commenced the project's second stage.
“We thrive on creating spectacular vehicles, and MadMac is a testament to this,” Dean stated as the car left the UK. “Collaborating with Mad Mike, a top figure in motorsport, allowed us to tackle new challenges and showcase our craftsmanship.”
As the project neared its unveiling at the Festival of Speed, the team in Petersfield meticulously prepared MadMac for its air journey to MadLab in Hampton Downs, New Zealand. Upon arrival, the team swiftly progressed from initial concepts to final plans, adapting the car from a track-optimised machine to a drift-ready beast.
During the teardown, the team decided to replace the original 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine with a custom-built, three-rotor 20B turbo engine, echoing Mike’s preference for rotary engines. Integrating this engine into McLaren’s design involved creating a unique transfer case to connect it to the existing sequential gearbox.
In a race against time, the team also designed custom steering components, bespoke wheels, and upgraded electronics, including a Haltech ECU and a modified gear shifter to enhance its drifting’s drifting capabilities. A collaboration with Rocket Bunny further accentuated the hypercar’s aggressive aesthetics.
After rigorous testing, the team celebrated the completion of MadMac, which soon made its triumphant return to the UK for its debut at Goodwood, coinciding with Mike’s ten-year drifting anniversary. This project pushes the envelope in automotive design and honours New Zealand racing legend Bruce McLaren.
MadMac's unveiling in a special Red Bull livery and its inaugural hill climb at Goodwood marks just the beginning of its global journey. It is set to captivate audiences and redefine the limits of automotive engineering and performance.
