Jack Rix: After 721 years in development, we have a Valkyrie at Speed Week. And when I say we have one, we’re not talking about a couple of mollycoddled demo laps with an instructor looking disapprovingly over our shoulder. Save for a couple of engineers keeping tabs on its vitals, briefing us on the start-up procedure and tucking it in for the night, they’ve literally lobbed us the keys to deploy it as we see fit on road and track. For five whole days.
May we remind you this is no ordinary car. Even calling it a car seems a bit of a stretch. It’s the brain biscuit of Adrian Newey who cares not about your comfort, or eardrums, or ability to parallel park or listen to your favourite podcast. His only goal with the Valkyrie was to build something with ludicrous, near-F1 track speed, and then to stick a numberplate on it. And that’s the craziest bit of all for a car with a Cosworth 6.5-litre V12 engine that screams to over 11,000rpm, that also has an e-motor in the seven-speed sequential gearbox for a total of 1,139bhp. Weight? Just 1,270kg dry. Aero? Lots of it – 1,100kg at 137mph, which seems oddly specific. And now I’m wondering quite what we’ve let ourselves in for. Look how nuts it is! Can any normal human being handle it?
Jethro Bovingdon: Jack, don’t doubt yourself! Yes, the sheer potential of the Valkyrie seems alien and intimidating. But the best racecars are usually pretty easy to drive – up to a point, at least. The Valkyrie is so single minded, its chassis and mechanical makeup so pure that it doesn’t have to overcome any inherent compromises or weaknesses. Think about it. Small, super stiff carbon tub, perfect suspension geometry, low centre of gravity and all that downforce might take a lot of time to truly master... but in the meantime it just means stability and confidence. You’ll be bouncing off the rev limiter in no time.
This story is from the November 2024 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2024 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Mi5 SILENT, POSH AND LETHAL!
With its reimagined design language, BMW has done what it does best-divided opinion with the kind of fervour usually reserved for debates about pineapple on pizza.
A VIRAL ESCAPE
The last time I visited Hampi in Karnataka was back in 2021, just as the world began to shake off the COVID-19 travel bans.
FROM UNDERDOG TO CHAMPION
Thierry Neuville's Journey to WRC Glory
Max Verstappen: FOUR-TIME CHAMP UNDER THE VEGAS LIGHTS
From dominance to resilience, Verstappen cements his legacy while Mercedes shines in Sin
VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS GT PLUS SPORT: SEXY+SPORT
Volkswagen has a knack for keeping their loyal and enthusiastic customers grinning from ear to ear. The German manufacturer has almost become synonymous with build quality, safety and performance.
BE GE AND XEV 9E Sexy and Ballsy!
Starting a review can be quite a challenge, especially when it's hard to pinpoint the flaws!
CAPTURING THE ESSENCE
Chilly, cold mornings and Mumbai is a rare combination that we seldom see in this part of our beautiful country.
BATTLE OF TWO GOLIATHS
When Luxury Meets Performance, Who Takes the Crown?
THE E-MPV THAT DARES TO DREAM BIG
The MPV market, dominated for aeons by Toyota's Innova, has always felt like a rather predictable place. It's the type of vehicle you buy not out of passion but practicality-like a pair of orthopaedic shoes.
IMPRACTICAL YET IRRESISTIBLE
Exactly ten years ago, I took my first international trip. It was to Bahrain, a country of endless desert and skyscrapers, where my aunt and uncle lived. Among their friends and neighbours, one particular gentleman, upon learning I was a budding petrolhead, took an entire day off work to take me around the city’s showrooms to see some “normal” Middle East traffic.
