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About
W1 Hot Weather Testing
TURNING UP THE HEAT
McLaren continues to push the boundaries of performance and driver engagement with W1. It is a machine that embodies our commitment to excellence, capable of thriving both at the track and out on the open road. The promise is performance, everywhere – even in the most challenging of climates. So, in the countdown to customer delivery, our team travelled to one of the hottest places on earth for a final series of gruelling tests.
Andy Beale
Chief Engineer
Going to Extremes
From the outset of development, peak performance in high-temperature environments was a central consideration for the McLaren W1. "Using a McLaren in hot conditions presents different challenges than at normal ambient temperatures," says Andy Beale, Chief Engineer. "We have to ensure the car performs as well as intended, looking closely at the cooling systems during full engine load, the impact of environmental conditions such as road debris, or even the functionality of climate in the cabin for occupants."
ROUND-THE-CLOCK DEVELOPMENT
During two intense weeks in the Arizona desert, with temperatures in excess of 40°C (104°F), the team covered more than 5,000km with two validation prototype vehicles, and completed hundreds of hours of wheel time as well as countless repeat tests. "Our team in the US would run exhaustive tests during the day and send data over to the team at the McLaren Technology Centre to analyse during the night," says Jonathan Beaumont, Senior Vehicle Engineering Manager. "Thanks to the eight-hour time difference, we were running round-the-clock development cycles."
Jonathan Beaumont
Senior Vehicle Engineering Manager
TESTING AT THE LIMITS
Vikram Shah, McLaren Vehicle Development Engineer, likens the conditions in Arizona to a "torture chamber" – in other words, a perfect environment in which to challenge W1’s resilience. "It is our job to test the car to its absolute limits. The temperature was extremely harsh – but it’s not just about the temperature. It's the vibrations over the kerbs, the G-forces, the braking loads… it was a very good test to ensure it can handle these conditions."
SURPASSING EXPECTATIONS
The McLaren team were always confident W1 would excel in the Arizona tests – but even their high expectations for the car were surpassed. "W1 has proven itself to be unique in the way you can spend hours exploring its remarkable performance on the track, then immediately revert to driving it on Route 66 in perfect comfort," says Andy Beale. "It has also confirmed that we’ve succeeded in not having to compromise between aerodynamics and optimal cooling performance."
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