Drag race: McLaren P1 vs Ferrari 296 GTB

The McLaren P1 is one of the most legendary hypercars of the last 15 years. It was one of the original Holy Trinity alongside the Porsche 918 Spyder and the Ferrari LaFerrari, and retains a reputation for being a lairy thing to drive.

But technology has come a long way since this car launched in 2013, so can this iconic hypercar be humbled by a modern supercar? Well I’m going to race it against the Ferrari 296 GTB to find out.

Let’s take a closer look at the stats…

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Ferrari 296 GTB

I’ll be driving the Ferrari for this race, and mounted behind me I have a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine. It’s mated to an electric motor, and combined I have 830hp and 740Nm of torque.

Power is sent to the rear wheels only via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and it weighs just 1,570kg. The starting price for a 296 GTB is just over £240,000, but you can spend a hell of a lot more than that with options.

McLaren P1

Moving on to the McLaren, it has a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 combined with an electric motor to make 916hp and 900Nm of torque. Like the Ferrari, the P1 is rear-wheel drive which will make it tricky to get off the line quickly.

It has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and the McLaren is the lighter car of the two. It tips the scales at 1,490kg. The owner’s wallet has also been stripped of some weight, because this car cost him a whopping £1.2 million.

So on paper, the McLaren should walk this. It’s more powerful and lighter than the Ferrari, but maybe the 296 GTB has a trick or two up its sleeve. You’ll have to watch the video to see what happens.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.