The McLaren 720S has been around for what feels like ages, yet despite that, it's still the undisputed king of drag racing among stock RWD cars. And that's not for the lack of trying.
Every time a new model that might stand a chance of defeating the British machine comes along, a drag race between the two is usually staged within a few days. Not that we're complaining. However, the Woking supercar manages to dig deep and cross that finish line more quickly than its contender.
Of course, it's not always easy. For a rear-wheel-drive car, surface conditions play a very big role. Race the McLaren in the wet, and you'll get totally different times than on a prepped drag strip, and even though that goes for pretty much any other car out there, it's going to have an even bigger impact for the 720S.
But what else besides the quality of the asphalt does influence traction? It takes two to boogie so, the word we're looking for is "tires". Good rubber will make the most of the available grip, which means less power is lost through wheelspin.
As the title suggests, the video you'll watch below is a rematch between the McLaren 720S and the Ferrari F8 Tributo after their previous encounter midway through September. Then, they came wearing their stock Pirelli P Zero tires, and, whether that played a role or not, the Ferrari won two of the three races. Now, they're both fitted with the stickier Toyo R888Rs, and the McLaren is ready to take its crown back.
You might think the new tires shouldn't really make much difference since, like before, both cars are on level terms. Except the McLaren has a tendency to launch harder than the Ferrari, making it more likely to slip if the grip isn't at the highest levels. The upgraded rubber should be an advantage for the Macca, then, but the theory is one thing, practice, completely another.
Another important aspect, as the driver of the 720S points out, is the man behind the wheel. Driving these cars is easy: plant your two feet, release the left one on green, keep the wheel straight. However, squeezing the best out of them isn't. It takes skill and knowledge, and some people have it more than others. Considering this driver managed to drop in the nines, we'd say he's got both. Pre-race talk starts at 2:30, races at 4:10, conclusions at 10:40.
"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie) Full profile
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