McLaren Automotive is set to make a commanding statement at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, embracing the 2025 theme of ‘Champions and Challengers’ by celebrating landmark achievements and unveiling its latest innovations in performance and design.
Headlining the festivities at ‘McLaren House’ is the public debut of the McLaren W1, a striking showcase of the brand’s future-facing engineering and performance philosophy. With only 399 units offered to customers—all of which have been fully allocated—the W1 represents a bold evolution of McLaren’s road car identity. It is powered by an entirely new V8 hybrid powertrain that delivers a formidable 1,275PS exclusively to the rear wheels. This technological tour de force is matched by an advanced active aerodynamics system inspired by Formula 1, including ground-effect innovations that elevate both grip and agility.
The W1 joins the revered McLaren ‘1’ lineage, taking its place alongside two legendary models—the McLaren F1 and the McLaren P1™. Together, the trio forms a generational trilogy, each model reflecting a different era of McLaren’s relentless push to challenge norms while retaining the unmistakable DNA that links them across decades.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of McLaren’s historic win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a victory secured in 1995 at its first attempt. To commemorate this extraordinary moment in motorsport history, the iconic #59 McLaren F1 GTR will return to dynamic action at Goodwood. Fresh from its exhibition at the Le Mans Museum, the car will be driven up the Goodwood Hillclimb by JJ Lehto, one of the trio who drove it to victory in France three decades ago.
Building on this heritage, McLaren will also showcase the 750S Le Mans, a newly revealed, ultra-limited edition supercar created in honour of the 1995 triumph. Only 50 examples will be built, each equipped with McLaren Special Operations’ (MSO) bespoke High Downforce Kit designed to elevate circuit performance. The 750S Le Mans draws direct inspiration from the ultra-rare F1 LM road car, reinforcing the deep connection between McLaren’s racing achievements and its road-going masterpieces.
McLaren’s presence at Goodwood is also underscored by the return of the Solus GT—a radical, single-seat hypercar powered by a 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine delivering 840PS. Weighing under 1,000kg, the Solus GT has previously stunned spectators with its performance, most notably when it claimed victory in the 2023 Timed Shootout Final. Last year, it appeared once more in spectacular fashion, piloted by two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen in a version customised by MSO to replicate his 1998 title-winning MP4/13.
This year’s festival will see another customer-spec Solus GT take to the hill, offering fans another glimpse of the extraordinary capabilities and personalised craftsmanship made possible through McLaren Special Operations.
Dynamic runs will also feature the limited-run 750S and Artura MCL38 Celebration Editions. These models were revealed in the wake of McLaren’s 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship victory, and each features a striking livery designed by MSO. The designs showcase McLaren’s signature Papaya Orange and Anthracite hues, colours synonymous with the brand’s legacy on the racetrack. Production of these celebratory models is capped at just nine examples each, underscoring their exclusivity.
Meanwhile, McLaren is also commemorating a decade of its acclaimed ‘LT’ series—cars known for delivering uncompromising track-focused performance. In honour of this milestone, the company launched the global ‘Celebrate LT’ campaign earlier this year, uniting LT owners through community-led gatherings and track events. At Goodwood, examples from McLaren’s own Heritage fleet will be on display in the Supercar Paddock, with dynamic demonstrations throughout the event.
As McLaren takes centre stage at Goodwood, the company not only honours its rich past but reinforces its commitment to pushing boundaries in engineering, motorsport and bespoke craftsmanship. The festival offers a dynamic celebration of the marque’s continuing evolution and its enduring ability to thrill.
