The Gordon Murray T.50s generates enough downforce to drive upside down at speed
The track-only T.50s supercar is a masterclass in aerodynamic engineering. By stripping away road-legal constraints, Gordon Murray Automotive created a machine that produces 1,500kg of downforce. This immense pressure, combined with a lightweight frame, creates the theoretical possibility of driving on the ceiling of a tunnel at 175mph.
The T.50s is a specialized racing variant of the road-going T.50 supercar, designed specifically for track performance. By removing road-going legislation and maintenance requirements, the engineering team achieved a significant weight reduction of 94kg, bringing the total weight of the vehicle to just 890kg. This focus on lightweight construction is paired with a 4.0L naturally aspirated Cosworth GMA V12 engine that produces 720 horsepower, ensuring the car is faster and more powerful than its road-legal counterpart.
The core of the car's performance lies in its sophisticated aerodynamic package. The vehicle features a 1,758mm-wide delta wing at the rear, working in tandem with a rear-mounted fan, a front splitter, an underbody aerofoil, and adjustable diffusers. These components collectively generate over 1,500kg of downforce, which represents 170% of the car's total weight. According to Gordon Murray, this effective aerodynamic design is what makes the feat of driving upside down theoretically possible, provided the car maintains a speed of at least 175mph.
This project serves as a celebration of British engineering and the team's extensive background in motorsport. With only 25 units being produced, the T.50s is a highly exclusive model, priced at £3.1m before taxes. Even before the full details were released, more than half of the production run had already been sold. The car represents a push beyond previous performance boundaries, demonstrating the full extent of what is possible when engineers are free to prioritize track capability above all other considerations.
The T.50s is not merely a modified T.50; it features hundreds of significant revisions specifically for track use. The interior has been stripped back to support its racing focus, contributing to the overall weight loss. By combining this enhanced lightweighting with a phenomenal downforce-to-weight ratio, the T.50s is engineered to perform on a racing circuit in a manner that the developers claim is unlike anything else currently available.
