{"id":469698,"date":"2024-07-15T18:05:39","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T18:05:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/?p=469698"},"modified":"2024-12-03T02:32:23","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T02:32:23","slug":"mika-hakkinen-drives-the-mclaren-solus-gt-at-the-goodwood-festival-of-speed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/mika-hakkinen-drives-the-mclaren-solus-gt-at-the-goodwood-festival-of-speed\/","title":{"rendered":"VIDEO: Mika H\u00e4kkinen drives the McLaren Solus GT at the Goodwood Festival of Speed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mika H\u00e4kkinen returned to the wheel of a single-seat V10-powered McLaren once again at this year\u2019s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with a dramatic appearance on the famous hillclimb. The Finnish driver and double Formula 1 World Champion with McLaren stormed up the Goodwood Hill in a McLaren Solus GT finished as a beautifully crafted tribute to the McLaren MP4\/13 that he drove in 1998 \u2013 and starred at the Festival of Speed only last year in 2023.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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H\u00e4kkinen won the Formula 1 World Drivers\u2019 Championships in 1998 and 1999, capturing McLaren\u2019s third and fourth drivers\u2019 titles of the sport\u2019s fabled V10 era. His championship charge in 1998 was instrumental in also delivering McLaren\u2019s 8th World Constructors\u2019 Championship. He and teammate David Coulthard won nine races that season, on the way to title glory for the team.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Bringing H\u00e4kkinen\u2019s heroic McLaren legacy into the 21st<\/sup> century, the McLaren Solus GT driven by the Formula 1 legend at this year\u2019s Goodwood Festival of Speed is just one of 25 customer cars produced. Its owner, a self-confessed McLaren Formula 1 and Mika H\u00e4kkinen fanatic tasked McLaren Special Operations (MSO) with hand-painting his Solus GT as a stunning tribute to the famous Finn\u2019s MP4\/13 racer.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Displaying hallmark MSO craftsmanship, the livery comprises expertly blended colors that are faithful to the MP4\/13 chassis as it is today, rather than the hues of the Formula 1 car in 1998. In a further display of authenticity, the livery was applied by a member of the MSO paint team who painted the MP4\/13 cars in period, for the 1998 season.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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“Driving the Solus GT is an experience that reminds me of my time racing with McLaren. A true single-seater with incredible V10 power and sound \u2013 just incredible!” <\/em>Mika H\u00e4kkinen, two-time Formula 1 World Champion with McLaren<\/p>\n

The Solus GT, revealed in August 2022, sees McLaren make real its expression of the ultimate single-seat track-only hypercar from the virtual world. Based on the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo concept car envisaged for the Gran Turismo SPORT<\/em> video game, only 25 customer cars will be made, with deliveries underway.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Solus GT weighs less than 1,000kg and is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine that can rev to in excess of 10,000rpm and develops 840PS. The incredible aerodynamics of the optimized bodywork and floor, honed by both wind tunnel research and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are capable of generating over 1,200kg of downforce. The amalgamation of ultra-lightweight engineering, power, and incredible aerodynamic optimization means that the Solus GT is capable of the fastest lap times of any McLaren outside of single-seater racing and delivers a driving experience close to the engagement and sensation of driving a Formula 1 car.<\/p>\n