The world’s first rotary McLaren has just been unveiled. And it was built none other than, you guessed it, Mad Mike Whidett. The MadMac was shown today ahead of its dynamic debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

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“It is fair to say that MadMac is the biggest challenge I have set myself in terms of builds, and it has been a huge effort by the whole team to get a project of this magnitude complete in just 100 days,” explained Mike. “The reveal of any project is always the most rewarding part, as it is an opportunity to step away from the overall build, and we get to see what fans and the wider world think of our efforts. Goodwood is the number 1 event for me of the year, and we have revealed some of our best builds there over the years, but this one is extra special. A perfect way to celebrate 10 years of drifting at the Festival of Speed, and a very proud moment to honour my fellow New Zealander, Bruce McLaren.” – Mike Whidett

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One of a Kind

Drifter Mad Mike is well known for his crazy creations. The Kiwi has machines are all rotary powered and the theme continues with his latest. The MadMac, as it is been dubbed, is based on a McLaren racecar (probably one its GT3 machines). As you can see, the car has been dressed up to look like a McLaren P1. It has also been fitted with a custom Rocket Bunny wide-body kit. It also rides on custom Rotiform wheels.

The base car was stripped of its original engine. In its place is a custom, billet tri-rotor engine. The Wankel motor is force-fed by a Garrett turbocharger and managed by a Haltech ECU. As a result the engine produces 750 kW of power. A six-speed sequential transmission sends power to the rear axle. There is also a hydraulic handbrake to initiate tail slides. You can see the world’s first rotary McLaren in action in the video below.