720S

Make
McLaren
Segment
Coupe

After being closed to the public last year due to the pandemic, the Goodwood Festival of Speed made a triumphant return last week. From the awe-inspiring Aston Martin Valkyrie to the brand-new BMW 2 Series and Lotus Emira, there were plenty of new models on display to drool over.

Unlike traditional auto shows, these cars aren't just on static display - you get to see them in action as they tackle the world-famous Goodwood Hillclimb. No other car show can match the sights, sounds, and smells you'll experience at Goodwood.

On the final day of the show, the Festival of Speed culminates in a timed shootout at the Hillclimb. Back in 2019, the Volkswagen ID.R set a new outright record, completing the challenging Hillclimb in 41.18 seconds, beating the previous record set in a McLaren MP4/13 Grand-Prix racer over 20 years ago.

It's perhaps fitting, then, that another McLaren race car set the fastest time at the Hillclimb this year. During the Timed Shootout Final, McLaren Factory Driver Rob Bell set the fastest time of the day in a McLaren 720S GT3X with a time of 45.01 seconds, beating his closest rival by over a second.

"Winning the Timed Shootout Final was the perfect end to an excellent 2021 Festival of Speed for McLaren. Rob Bell drove magnificently, showcasing the outstanding capabilities of the 720S GT3X to great effect in mastering the challenging Goodwood Hill," said Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive.

Powering the track-only 720S GT3X is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo engine producing 710 horsepower, while a "push-to-pass" system increases the output by up to 30 hp. This wasn't the only McLaren that was put through its paces at the famous Hillclimb, as the McLaren Artura also made its public dynamic debut at the Festival of Speed. A McLaren GT, 765LT, 620R, and Elva were also put through their paces at the Hillclimb.