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Watch a McLaren P1 get tormented by a BAC Mono at Silverstone

Could there be anything more infuriating than making a million-plus-dollar investment in a vehicle like the McLaren P1, only to take it to a track and find you're unable to outrun a car that costs, without options, about 96,000 pounds ($159,000 at today's rates)? One P1 driver experienced that sort of frustration while running Silverstone, when he tangled with a very persistent BAC Mono driver. Now, the P1 absolutely decimates the single-seat, closed-wheel track toy on the straights, while losing a lot of ground in the bends. Even on a high-speed track like Silverstone, the McLaren doesn't boast enough of an advantage to keep the Mono at bay. As the intelligent YouTube commenters (yes, we're surprised by this too) point out, though, there could be a number of reasons why the Mono is so able to hassle and pass the P1. First, it's quite clear that the BAC driver knows the circuit far better than the McLaren pilot, as evidenced by his lines, particularly through Stowe and the Club/Vale complex (this could be chalked up, as one commenter says, to the lead car driving with his mirrors). The BAC is probably running a more aggressive tire than the P1, which in turn appears to be handicapping itself by not running its most aggressive aero setup. Finally, remember that the McLaren is a fully street-legal vehicle, full of safety gear and crash-worthiness as required by law. Still, the fact that this relatively affordable track toy is able to hound and pass one of the world's premier performance machines is a particularly impressive feat. Take a look at the video to see what we mean. Related Gallery BAC Mono View 15 Photos Related Gallery McLaren P1 News Source: Oliver Webb via YouTube Motorsports McLaren Convertible Coupe Racing Vehicles Performance Videos mclaren p1 silverstone bac mono bac

F1's Daniel Ricciardo a Monaco spoiler? 'I run those streets'

MONACO - Daniel Ricciardo jokes that he has a new strategy for Monaco this year - no pitstops, just keep going all the way to the checkered flag. The rules do not allow him to do that, of course, but the comment underlines the lingering pain of last year when the Australian seized pole position but was robbed of victory by a pitstop bungle. "It sucks. It hurts," said the Red Bull driver, who finished second to Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, at the time. "I got to the pits and everyone's running around like headless chooks (chickens)." The pole position was the only one that escaped champions Mercedes last year, and Ricciardo took some solace when he then won in Malaysia after Hamilton suffered engine failure. Title rivals Hamilton and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, separated by just six points and with two wins apiece, will be the favorites in Sunday's showcase race around the metal-fenced streets. But Ricciardo reckons he can again muscle in on the action, even if his car's Renault engine is down on power. "Regardless of where the car is at come Monaco, I'm certainly confident going there," he said at the previous Spanish Grand Prix, where he finished third. "I certainly feel like I run those streets ... I already get excited thinking about Monaco, I love that place. It's cool," he added. "The memories of last year are still more sweet than bitter so I'm just excited to get another chance this year." MILESTONES IN MIND Both Hamilton and Vettel have their own milestones in mind on what promises to be a sunny week in the Mediterranean principality for the two multiple title winners. Vettel, the championship leader, is aiming to become the first Ferrari driver to win in Monaco since Michael Schumacher in 2001 -- almost ancient history as far as Formula One is concerned. Hamilton meanwhile can equal his late, great idol Ayrton Senna's career tally of 65 pole positions on the 30th anniversary of the Brazilian's first Monaco win. Mercedes are going for their fifth successive Monaco win, with Hamilton triumphant last year after three victories in succession for now-retired champion Nico Rosberg. The title duel, in the sixth and slowest round of the championship, will also be about absent friends and returning heroes. Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion who called it a day last year, will be filling in for Spaniard Fernando Alonso at McLaren while the double champion takes on the Indianapolis 500 on the same weekend.

Gordon Murray's flat-pack truck is a long way from the McLaren F1

A team of crack British automotive engineers went out to the shed and put together a new vehicle that promises to be the envy of IKEA store managers the world over – a flat-pack truck. According to The Telegraph, two prototypes of a plucky little truck called The Ox were unveiled at an event at the Roundhouse, a performing arts and concert venue in London's Chalk Farm neighborhood on September 6. The event was organized by the Global Vehicle Trust, a charity founded by Sir Torquil Norman to address transportation-related issues in the developing world. Designed by a distinguished team of British automotive engineers, including famed engineer and father of the McLaren F1 Gordon Murray, the Ox is a barebones transporter with a simple, three-position cab, a sturdy chassis, and a surprisingly spacious cargo area. Powered by a small diesel mill out of a Ford Transit, the Ox can carry just over two tons of cargo or up to thirteen passengers in its versatile covered cargo bay. While it is only rear-wheel drive, the Ox was designed to tackle the kinds of rough terrain found in the developing world. It is also, as claimed by the design team, rugged, easy to maintain, and built to thrive in areas where parts and dealer support are a rarity. The Ox's biggest selling point is that it can be packaged and shipped in a crate and assembled at its destination without a workshop. An entire truck can be assembled by three people in just under 12 hours. All the tools necessary for its construction, about forty different wrenches and a single Allen key, are included in the kit. It remains to be seen whether the Ox can make inroads in places like rural Africa or Southeast Asia where second-hand Toyotas and Chinese vehicles currently rule. The designers have high hopes for it however, and with its ease of use and rugged, versatile design The Ox may very well find some success carting people and cargo throughout the world's developing rural areas. Related Video: News Source: The Telegraph Auto News Design/Style Weird Car News McLaren Truck Videos Gordon Murray ikea