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F1 Champion Mika Häkkinen Reunites With McLaren In Solus GT Showcase At Goodwood
Mika Häkkinen, the 1998 and 1999 Formula 1 World Champion, returned to drive a McLaren at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. He piloted a McLaren Solus GT, painted as a tribute to his title-winning MP4/13 Formula 1 car. The single-seater Solus GT, with its high-revving V10 engine, made a dramatic appearance on the famous hillclimb.
Häkkinen's return to the wheel of a V10-powered McLaren was a highlight of this year's festival. The Finnish driver stormed up the Goodwood Hill in a Solus GT finished as a tribute to his 1998 MP4/13 racer. This special car is one of only 25 customer cars produced by McLaren Special Operations (MSO).
The Solus GT driven by Häkkinen at Goodwood is an embodiment of McLaren's rich racing heritage. The car's livery was hand-painted by an MSO team member who worked on the original MP4/13 cars in 1998. This attention to detail ensures that the tribute is both authentic and evocative.
In 1998, Häkkinen's performance was crucial in securing McLaren's eighth World Constructors' Championship. Alongside teammate David Coulthard, he won nine races that season, leading McLaren to glory. His championship victories in 1998 and 1999 marked McLaren’s third and fourth drivers’ titles during Formula 1’s iconic V10 era.
The Solus GT, revealed in August 2022, represents McLaren’s ultimate single-seat track-only hypercar. Based on the Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo concept car for the Gran Turismo SPORT video game, it weighs less than 1,000kg and features a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine capable of exceeding 10,000rpm and producing 840PS.
Its aerodynamics are honed through wind tunnel research and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), generating over 1,200kg of downforce. This combination of lightweight engineering and aerodynamic optimisation allows the Solus GT to achieve lap times close to those of Formula 1 cars.
Goodwood Festival Highlights
The Solus GT made history at Goodwood again this year with Häkkinen at the helm. Just last year, he drove an MP4/13 at the event. Additionally, McLaren factory driver Marvin Kirchhöfer won the Timed Shootout Final in a Solus GT with a time of 45.342 seconds, marking McLaren’s second victory in three years at Goodwood.
"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 – just incredible!" said Mika Häkkinen.
McLaren Automotive: Pioneering Excellence
McLaren Automotive has been producing ultra-high-performance supercars since its launch in 2010. Headquartered at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England, it leverages its rich racing history to create some of the most exhilarating vehicles on the market today.
The company’s product range includes GTS, supercar, Motorsport, and Ultimate models sold in over 40 markets worldwide. Each car is assembled by hand at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking.
A Tradition of Innovation
McLaren has continuously pushed technological boundaries since introducing carbon fibre chassis technology into Formula 1 with the MP4/1 in 1981. The legendary McLaren F1 road car followed in 1993, establishing their supercar DNA which continues today with models like the Artura Spider and the hybrid hyper-GT Speedtail.
The company also introduced its first hybrid hypercar, the P1™, in 2013. This model launched their Ultimate Series vehicles which include subsequent models like Senna and Elva – their lightest road car ever.
Global Partnerships
McLaren partners with world-leading companies such as Ashurst and Bowers & Wilkins to push boundaries further. These collaborations enhance their vehicles' performance and innovation capabilities.
The Group also holds a majority stake in McLaren Racing which competes globally across various motorsport series including Formula 1 World Championship and INDYCAR series.
This year’s Goodwood Festival showcased not only Häkkinen’s enduring legacy but also highlighted McLaren’s commitment to excellence through their innovative engineering marvels like the Solus GT.
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