Bugatti vs McLaren F1: Top Gear's most epic race!

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#VINwiki #bugattiveyron #mclarenf1

[@EdBolian]

Always an honor to have Ben here to share stories.

[@johnzero8923]

Honour

[@crouchingtiger9108]

@@johnzero8923 You say Potato, I say potatio.

[@johnzero8923]

@@crouchingtiger9108 let's call the whole thing offio

[@user-mi7ri4xv4x]

Some say he knows 2 facts about ducks and they're both wrong

[@85priesty]

Awesome, Ben Collins is great...the celebrities would always praise the anonymous person, but he will always be "The Stig" without disrespect to the others, but he is The Stig...although the new Top Gear Australia isn't horrible (and now the only english version of the show on air) but the track is interesting.

[@OzarksWildman]

Thank you Mr. Rowan Atkinson for letting them borrow your amazing car! 👍

[@1labrinth]

Mr Bean prepping the Stig to race his F1 against a Veyron in Abu Dhabi is peak Top Gear.

[@tomkopp2115]

More stig stories, thanks Ben!

[@blackness010]

Get Clarkson on vinwiki!

[@rockymtnsquid4537]

Stupid idea. Clarkson is an idiot.

[@isak97f]

Or Atkinson!

[@benjy6358]

he cant even be bothered to apppear on Drivetribe when he partly own it..let alone come to this..

[@joshualydon6741]

@@benjy6358 he hasn’t owned it for a while now

[@benjy6358]

@@joshualydon6741 yup

[@matteightytwo]

I never knew it was such a famous McLaren in that race

[@ReaperThugX]

They’re all famous

[@richardstoffel6585]

Which one isn’t? Lol

[@SynthiaVan]

"Cat's eyes" are the little reflectors in the middle of the road that help define the lane lines at night. Some types stick up a bit from the road surface.

[@AndrewMalkin]

Thank-you!

[@EleanorPeterson]

Out there they're called 'camel humps' and are 14" high. 🐪👀 (This is a lie...😁)

[@jerrymarshall2728]

The F1 is quite a step up from Mr. Bean's Mini! 😂🤣

[@Racerman27410]

Ben is an excellent story teller if for no other reason he has great stories to tell.

[@twentysheds___5967]

His book is worth a read too

[@keith6360]

Funny watching the man behind Stig after watching an interview on the Undertaken about WM. Both had a very mysterious figure to protect and now finally talking what went behind the scenes 😂

[@uzogsi]

"You get a bit of smoke, a bad smell and a HUGE invoice" 🤣🤣

[@rugu6869]

Love Ben's stories! Behind the scenes information is always the best. Rowan Atkinson is a true car enthusiast. TY!!! One of the BEST moments on Top Gear for sure.

[@gauravjoshi6310]

I remember watching this, this is by far one of the most easy remembered videos from OG top gear, another being Veyron vs Euro fighter race.

[@mahcooharper9577]

Wow, never knew it was P380GJM in that race - I always assumed it would have been easy enough to find an F1 in Abu Dhabi lol... And yes i was amazed it got off the line quicker than the Veyron - impressive drive. What a great story, and it just adds to the legendary status of Rowan Atkinson that he allowed his beloved F1 to participate in that race. I wouldn't have!

[@flacjacket]

I always figured the F1 lead to around 120 in that race, hearing ben say it was up to somewhere around 110 really shows just how impressive a bit of engineering the F1 is, and how competent of a driver Ben is.

[@blizzardmichael]

Rowan made Him promise to short shift...

[@alexdi1367]

The F1 has a higher power-to-weight ratio. The Veyron's advantage is having no shift delays and a much broader powerband. I expect, on modern tires with some very aggressive shifting, the F1 might well win.

[@stanleysimmonsreactions9056]

If they used the XP5 car it would win because of the extra RPM range

[@HoldenMagroin2]

Rowan did crash it but it got fixed and he sold it on.. sounds like hes trying to make out its dead

[@benjy6358]

nah, he crashed it twice..he keeps it for quite some time after the second one before selling it..letting it go becuase its time..probably the highest mileage..

[@HoldenMagroin2]

@benjy6358 yeah I know but Ben in the video made it seem like it's gone but it's still out there.. think he pocketed 8m for it

[@benjy6358]

@@HoldenMagroin2 i just googled, 12.2 mil USD, 41000km, 2 crash..seems fair..

[@HoldenMagroin2]

@@benjy6358 I agree

[@energymc22]

​Letting it go because it's divorce time and perhaps a little short of funds ​@@benjy6358

[@SarahJones-ik6jh]

You definitely deserve more recognition for this!

[@randerson4124]

bot

[@lorddoosworth8175]

le bot de la tit

[@85priesty]

I never knew that was Rowan Atkinson's car. I would love to see a chat with Ben (now being allowed to reveal himself) with Rowan Atkinson...

[@squid_fish]

And how many times did Rowan crash this F1 now, twice?

[@hhharada]

They call that colour Dark Burgundy

[@camargo2012]

the BBC version of that race with music from ES Posthumus is pure magic, its a must watch pure epicness.

[@premonemo]

*Slightly unrelated, Top Gear did a Murcielago SV vs SLR 722 at the same location . Did the Murci Let off? @bencollins I NEED ANSWERS!

[@bryanpatterson9865]

Awesome to see Ben Collins on here. He was one of the best stigs on the show.

[@benjy6358]

Top Gear was the biggest money maker for BBC under Jeremy..they have literal millions to spend per episode..renting/borrowing the F1, ship it to Abu Dhabi (probably flew there), the shipping insurance, on road insurance (or probably pay for repair themselves in case insurance did not cover), technician (as per Ben, at least Michelin was there)..its crazy..that is why Jeremy claim Top Gear NEED to be scripted because they were funded by public money..they cant mock around hoping something interesting happen..

[@Fester_]

Ronan likes trucking, he likes trucking. He likes trucking and he likes to truck.

[@HighRiderSonoma]

You’re a legend Ben. Thanks Rowan for letting the crew borrow your car. Top Gear of the late 90s until mid 00’s was legendary

[@my31and37]

Ben's one of my favorite guests..keep the stories coming!

[@Zachary79]

great to hear this from Ben.. love it

[@Midg-td3ty]

Would be interesting to let it go against the Bugatti Tourbillon, to showcase how much tech improved in the past 2 decades

[@SynthiaVan]

What a story. What a car. What a driver! The F1 is still my favorite car of all time. I saw the prototype 16/4 Veyron in Germany before production started, what a treat! It's been a fascinating car from day 1. But the McLaren F1 is in a league entirely of it's own. As are The Stig and Mr. Bean 😉

[@matthewdobbie6740]

Yes more (stig stories)

[@K_Swap_The_World_69]

Just What An Incredible Driver!

[@mohamedabdalhamid8947]

The most iconic race since childhood ❤

[@thealcohologist8624]

I remember watching TG when this came out, it was a well kept secret and a wtf moment. The goid old days

[@zippityzbrake]

took me a full 10 seconds to realize what he meant by cats eyes. i grew up calling them turtles

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Indeed, the inventor was directly inspired by his cats eyes showing him where the end of his driveway was during a blackout.

[@andersed1]

It is like a military pilot signing for his plane before takeoff. It reminds me off stories my dad has of the F-104 of how touchy the controls could be at high speed.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

You're lucky you had a father at all, as indeed yes the Lawn Dart was a might twitchy

[@pablodiablo9178]

Drag racing someone else's 20 million dollar car. A stress 99.9% of us will never feel.

[@theoldcripple]

Epic Stig and Top Gear history!

[@pravinr7004]

Definitely one of, if not the greatest drag race ever.. the McLaren F1 ahead, then keeping up with the Veyron was just pure car porn.

[@stephenmattinson6892]

I witnessed the unfortunate rear ending by rowan. Imagine 1 of the most important cars in history nearly written off by an mg metro 🤦🏻‍♂️ swiftly whisked away in the back of a van and abandoned it

[@johnzero8923]

Mr Bean must have been speechless

[@307pug205]

F1 still holds the record as the fastest production car in the world, with a normal aspirated engine, all the cars that are faster have either turbocharged, supercharged or electric hybrid assistance

[@AeroGuy07]

Who did the half window better, the McLaren F1 or the Subaru SVX?

[@hail2tfreeman]

That was Mr Beans McClaren?!!!!!

[@joegott9391]

Might be a couple TG fans in the audience!

[@dougshaw2944]

"smashed his car and the rest is history.." Repaired/rebuilt by the factory and later sold for a big figure is what the internet said back in the day. The web isn't always a lie, is it... 👍👍to The Stig!

[@Stu047]

Oh I remember this episode so well. I've watched that drag race a good deal more than any other. I was waving the flag for the Macca! 😁

[@brandonford8092]

WTF is a "cat's eye" in the road?

[@johnzero8923]

Little glow in dark lights that are on the side of the lane, they also protrude from the road so you bump over them if you dive on them.

[@Sir.VicsMasher]

@@johnzero8923 I didn't see anything protruding from the road surface.🔎

[@johnzero8923]

@@Sir.VicsMasher the Ben said they were there and well spaced out ,

[@bwofficial1776]

@@Sir.VicsMasher They only protrude a few millimeters so they're not damaged by cars going over them. They're not lights, they're reflectors. Most roads have some form of them.

[@johnzero8923]

@@bwofficial1776the Ben may have been suggesting that the car could have been thrown off line .

[@rahulsudhir666]

The fact that the car ended up back in the Middle East now is kinda fitting. I'd no idea it was Rowan Atkinson's car that was featured in the Top Gear episode. The car has gone to a great collection n will definitely not sit idle like most other F1s. The current owner (Faisal bin Laden if anyone's interested in knowin) did a 3000 mile road trip in it immediately after he took ownership of it n it's been documented here on KZbin by *Mr.JWW* in an awesome few videos. Here's the video for those who are interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpuVqZKArNGVabssi=cFog_TgylocaaCVP

[@MostlyPennyCat]

I mean, it's not like it _lost_ lost. Less than a second difference maybe? I know which one I'd own...

[@stuffhappens5681]

Given the crashes that have occurred (I think Ron Dennis himself crashed one) the F1 is obviously a tad squirrely at high speed.

[@mcdoe1326]

I’m pretty sure Rowan rebuild that car through McLaren themselves

[@gottliebdee263]

Basically are we saying that, (even though he had 4 wheel drive), Hammond managed to fluff the start?

[@gregorygant4242]

Name ? Bean !!! Lol,lol !

[@po.russki]

So Rowan was there right behind the camera?

[@jeffomalley100]

It would be so much better if you told him he had to dress up as everyone one of us knows him as the Stig lol.

[@kavinskysmith4094]

well it makes sense that you had it until 90, and it had such lift at 185, the way the veryon is it just sucks down and holds, the F1 was just designed to be quick, light and fast, and I think its top speed was accidental. and about that speed is when the aerodynamics really start to come into play, as back in nascar that is where the 68/69 charger just ran into an aerodynamic wall until they made the 500 and daytona versions, that allowed it to go past that by changing its aerodynamics, into those kinda speeds back in the 60's and honestly I wonder how the drag race of the three would go now, of the T50 vs the F1 and the Veyron, and how much more stable the T50 would be and honestly ever since that thing was announced the first thought I had given rowan atkinson I think had sold his car a year earlier was did he place an order or get a heads up from Gordon Murray in secret about it lol as you've sold the car on, and now a new version is coming out, that's abit of a co ink adink now aint lol

[@Sailor914]

The AC in the beginning of F1 production was meager to say the least, and McLaren developed a “fix”

[@joelharris3073]

lol it’d be hard to wreck it any more than Rowan did

[@jeffreyoldham55]

Mega! Thanks, Ben! 👊😎

[@darrelstickler]

Very floaty

[@narek_kona302]

Was that before or after Atkinson crashed it twice?

[@casualobserver77]

McLaren F1 videos make me click with the quickness

[@costaboy337]

Can someone explain to me the difference between; unstable and "very floaty" 😅

[@bellluna9017]

The stig!

[@MrSilnev]

It's a shame you guys never had a F1 do a lap of the track. It probably would have been faster than the Bugatti around the track.

[@straight-narrow-path]

To pass an annual MOT test the drivers seat must be able to move forward and backwards and lock in place . The McLaren F1 has a fixed seat so how the hell is it road legal ?

[@307pug205]

That only applies to adjustable seats, a seat in a fixed position is not a reason for failure, mot testers manual section 6.2.5

[@straight-narrow-path]

@@307pug205 you are absolutely right 👍 thanks for your comment.

[@Nyx_88888]

is this the Birdman veyron?

[@ChristopherOvrebo]

Thanks Ben

[@johnzero8923]

He was a legend, then he took the helmet off.

[@billgoodwin8742]

IMO, the F1 is the greatest car ever made. And this race shows that. No, it didn't win, but to be that close proves that.

[@stanleysimmonsreactions9056]

I still think that video was fake! There is no way if he used launch control that the Veyron would lose to the F1. 4x wheel drive, launch control and 0-60 in 2.5 seconds vs 2x drive, no launch control and 3.2 to 60 mph

[@globalautobahn1132]

1:48 the color doesn’t matter mate. It’s a McLaren F1! It’s like a beautiful woman.

[@midnightq3667]

So the f1 license plate was completely fake that was a surprise.

[@stuartsmith5308]

F1 sadly will loose it's world record as the fastest Naturally Aspirated car in 2026. Bugatti Tourbillon will sadly break that record. F1 is also my favorite car. I like the XP3 in silver with high mirrors, and big extra driving lamps in the nose.

[@Stu047]

The fact the F1 would be relegated to second place eventually was/is an inevitability. Technology pushes forward; it always has and alway will. But the Tourbillon won't be handed "Legend" status simply because it kicked the F1 off its throne. The challenge for the Tourbillon will be if it can keep others from taking its trophy for the next 3 decades! 😄

[@trenthazbroek5602]

Tourbillon doesn't count because it's also a hybrid

[@stuartsmith5308]

@@trenthazbroek5602 your right i'm wrong. Thank you. Pleased the F1 can continue to hold that record.

[@browners_28]

Atkinson rebuilt that car

[@JohnGuzik]

On Top Gear, after the race, one of them said--the world's fastest car beat a car . . . that wasn't. So while this was eye candy, what mental patient thought the F1 would ever win?

[@BCJDM]

F1 is still the fastest NA production car

[@Grundle_ItcH085]

F1 is the most overrated car imo. It’s goofy looking and the rear wheels are like 3 inches from the tail end of the car 🤣🤣🤣

[@MarcSob22]

F1 is nothing more than marketing done well!! Over the years working with exotic cars I had the opportunity to meet some F1 owners and some of them who actually use the car, they say the same thing, it's terrible at stability, it's terrible at braking, at high speed it's very unstable!! It only won races when the BOP helped, in the more open championships, it didn't even come close to the performance of the F40 LM, XJ220 LM and some others at the time!

[@turdferguson3803]

What a massive load of coping bs LOL

[@ZboeC5]

The official race cars were the "longtails" and not the standard models. McLaren didn't want to race the regular F1 and now we know the real reason why.

[@Pwnulolumad]

The fact that OP mentioned BOP makes me think they might not be a butthurt fanboy, but probably some old guy that actually watched racing during the f1 era

[@bwofficial1776]

And yet, it was still the fastest car in the world for a decade.