After debuting its Spéirling experimental electric demonstrator at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, McMurtry Automotive has entered its next phase of development, with a number of high-profile test outings at tracks in the UK.

In a first for electric vehicles and a step towards team racing, the startup announced this week that it has been granted approval for its Spéirling track car to join MotorSport Vision test days at Donington Park race circuit in the UK. Until now, no EVs have been allowed on mixed test days due to safety concerns associated with high-voltage batteries impacting driver rescue and fire procedures. The McMurtry team has produced training material for the MSV marshals and equipped the Spéirling with additional safety features to reach approval standards.

Another hurdle stopping EVs from accessing top quality track time is that many EVs do not have the battery efficiency or capacity and charging capabilities to make a track or test day worth it. McMurtry has tackled this by designing a vehicle so small, light, and efficient that it has great range on track and needs fewer breaks to recharge. Additionally, the three-phase power found in most pit garages is enough to keep the McMurtry car topped up between sessions, so no expensive DC fast-chargers are necessary.

The Gloucestershire, UK-based McMurtry Automotive was founded in 2016 by Irish inventor and businessman Sir David McMurtry with a mission to be the future of motorsport, starting with the goal of developing a record-breaking track car that gets its name from “thunderstorm” in Irish. A small team of engineers is working to demonstrate the superiority of “small” when it comes to being faster and going further.

During 2017-2018, the first McMurtry vehicle concept was designed and built. During 2019-2020, the team innovated on the theme, persevering through the coronavirus pandemic to deliver the blueprints for the new car and start manufacturing the prototype. In 2021, the company has been sharing its vision as the prototype build continues and the next phase of high-profile testing commences.

After debuting the Spéirling experimental track car at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed with legendary racer Derek Bell in July, McMurtry has embarked on a program to break a number of world records with the demonstrator vehicle and show its true motorsport potential.

For the closed-cockpit single seater shown at Goodwood, the chassis features a full carbon monocoque with an integrated battery, carbon crash structures, and carbon bodywork in a car designed to comply with the highest motorsport standards. While the Spéirling is small, at just 3200 mm (126 in) long, 1500 mm (59 in) wide, and 1050 mm (41 in) tall, its longish wheelbase of 2000 mm (79 in) can accommodate a driver as tall as 6’7”.

The small size and advanced materials mean that the car’s mass could be kept under 1 t (2200 lb), so combined with the McMurtry E-axle RWD drivetrain gives the car a power-to-weight ratio of 1 hp/kg. A battery pack capacity of 60 kW·h enables a track driving time of 30-60 min and a WLTP road equivalent range of 350 mi (563 km). Battery voltage is over 800 V and the charge rate is up to 600 kW peak for pitstop quick charging.

As presented at Goodwood, the car can accelerate from 0 to 300 km/h (186 mph) in an estimated 9 s, with a top speed over 200 mph (322 km/h).

The car has an 80-hp (60-kW) fan-powered Downforce on Demand system for more than 500 kg (1100 lb) downforce from 0 mph. The system enhances grip, saves energy compared to the drag of conventional wings, and as a by-product produces 120 dB of jet-like sound. Despite the system making the Spéirling the loudest electric car ever, it can run in both quieter configurations depending on the downforce level selected.

Suspension is by multiple links with active ride height control, brakes are carbon, and wheels and tires are 210/640-R19 on 9.5 in wide wheels in front and 240/640-R19 on 10.5 in wide wheels in back.

Earlier this month, the Spéirling development team took a trip to an airfield in Oxfordshire, UK, for a day of testing that included Sir David McMurtry. For the event, the Mercedes-Benz Formula E team invited McMurtry to share their testing space for this event.

Having been involved with the development of many technical aspects of the car, over two sessions he achieved a respectable top speed and also tried some launches from rest. Later in the day, Ben McMurtry, one of David’s sons and also part of the senior management of McMurtry Automotive, also test drove the track car.

The Spéirling being a single-seater, all drives are solo by default, but radio communication allows the engineering team and pit crew to keep in touch with the driver to offer coaching and coordinate testing.

In mid-November, the McMurtry team also spent a week with the Spéirling at Castle Combe racing circuit in Cotswolds, England, for testing of new hardware and software, tuning the car to the circuit, and welcoming some special guest drivers into the driver’s seat. The circuit’s infield contains 60,000 solar panels for providing green energy to power EV laps with zero tailpipe emissions.

Look and listen for big things from the small and loud demonstrator as the McMurtry team attempts to break a number of world records in the near future.