In a world-first that defies both logic and Newton’s best work, McMurtry Automotive has achieved the sort of feat you’d expect from a comic book rather than a car manufacturer: driving its Spéirling hypercar completely upside down. Yes, you read that correctly. Upside down. Like a bat. Or Spider-Man. But British.
Thomas Yates, the ever-so-bold Co-founder and Managing Director of McMurtry Automotive, piloted this gravity-defying escapade. The key to this marvel? A rather nifty bit of kit dubbed “Downforce-on-Demand™” – a proprietary fan system that essentially vacuums the car to the ground (or in this case, the ceiling of a bespoke rotating rig). The stunt was performed at the company’s Gloucestershire HQ, under the watchful eyes of employees and some very serious adjudicators who presumably double-checked the laws of physics before rubber-stamping this one.
But the Spéirling isn’t just about turning the automotive world on its head (literally). The very same machine also casually obliterated the Top Gear Test Track record by a whopping 3.1 seconds. Previously, that honour belonged to a Renault R24 F1 car from 2004 – which has now been put firmly in its place. Oh, and it still holds records at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew Hillclimb, in case you thought this was a one-trick pony.
Meet the Marvel: The Spéirling
This British-born, single-seat electric hypercar is in a class of its own. Originally conceived by the late Sir David McMurtry – a billionaire, inventor, and evidently a man with a thing for speed – the Spéirling carries forward his legacy through a tight-knit team of inventive engineers. The car isn’t just fast; it’s fast with flair.
Wait… How on Earth (or off it) Does This Work?
The idea of driving upside down in a racecar has been floated for years – mostly in late-night pub debates or wild F1 fan forums. Theoretically possible, yes, thanks to the enormous downforce produced by high-speed cars. But no one actually did it. Until now.
Thanks to McMurtry’s vacuum-based Downforce-on-Demand™ system, the Spéirling can cling to surfaces like a limpet on Red Bull – regardless of whether it’s stationary or moving. Unlike traditional cars that require high speeds for aerodynamic grip, the Spéirling generates clinginess at any speed, even when just loitering about.
During the stunt, Yates gently guided the car onto a ramp, rolled it onto a specially-designed rotating rig, and then – casually – let gravity know it was no longer in charge. The platform rotated 180 degrees, leaving the car fully inverted. Thanks to the vacuum under the chassis, the car remained firmly in place, and then – as you do – Yates drove it forward, upside down, entirely unsupported. Because why not?
Specs That Would Make a Jet Blush
To put it bluntly: this car is bonkers. It launches from 0–60mph in just 1.5 seconds, eats a quarter mile in 8 seconds flat, and clings to corners with more than 3g of lateral force. That’s three times what your body can handle before you start questioning your life choices.
Looking the Part
The record-setting prototype came dressed in a rather dashing falcon-inspired camouflage, layered over a stealthy matt black finish. This feathery tribute harks back to the original 2021 fan car and features peregrine falcon motifs – a nod to the fastest creature on Earth and the company’s emblem. There are even graphics placed under the rear wing, cheekily meant to be admired when the car is upside down. Because of course there are.
Prototype to Production: The Spéirling PURE
The car that turned gravity into a mere suggestion was the Spéirling PURE Validation Prototype 1 – the evolved successor of the Goodwood record-breaker. Only 100 production models are expected to hit the tarmac, with the first deliveries anticipated in 2026.
These final models will include upgrades like a beefier 100kWh battery pack. This will allow drivers a solid 20-minute romp around the track at GT3 or “let’s-break-records-again” pace. The battery cells (P50B Molicel 21700s for the technically inclined) deliver both mighty punch and serious stamina.
And Yes, It’s Safe Too
While the whole “hanging upside down in a car” bit might seem like the opening scene of a particularly wild spy movie, the Spéirling is built to the same standards as LMP1 race cars – the ultra-fast beasts of the Le Mans 24 Hours. The downforce not only delivers bonkers grip but also acts as a safety mechanism. If things go pear-shaped mid-race, the car can often be stopped promptly and safely, possibly even before you have time to say, “Crikey.”
