### Mika Häkkinen Electrifies Goodwood Festival: McLaren Solus GT Storms the Hill
Mika Häkkinen, the legendary Finnish driver and double Formula 1 World Champion, made a roaring return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year. Hurtling up the iconic hillclimb in a V10-powered McLaren Solus GT, Häkkinen captivated audiences with a spectacular drive in a car that pays homage to his classic McLaren MP4/13 from the 1998 season. This isn’t the first time Häkkinen has been in the spotlight at Goodwood; he also impressed fans at the 2023 edition of the festival.
Häkkinen clinched the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championships in 1998 and 1999, thus securing McLaren another pair of titles during the renowned V10 era. His 1998 triumph was critical in delivering McLaren’s 8th World Constructors’ Championship. Alongside teammate David Coulthard, he secured nine race wins that season, propelling the team to unprecedented success.
Bringing Häkkinen’s legacy into the present, the Solus GT that tore up the hill this year is one of just 25 such cars produced. Its owner, an ardent McLaren Formula 1 and Mika Häkkinen enthusiast, commissioned McLaren Special Operations (MSO) to hand-paint the Solus GT as a tribute to Häkkinen’s famous MP4/13 racer. The attention to detail was impeccable, with the livery crafted by an MSO team member who originally painted the MP4/13 in 1998.
### A Masterpiece of Engineering and Design
McLaren Special Operations showcased their craftsmanship, blending colors that match the MP4/13 as it appears today. This nostalgic yet modern touch embodies the essence of MSO’s dedication to precision and heritage.
“Driving the Solus GT is an experience that reminds me of my time racing with McLaren. A true single-seater with incredible V10 power and sound – just incredible!” said Häkkinen, reflecting on the similarities between racing the Solus GT and his Formula 1 days.
### McLaren Solus GT: Specs and Performance
Unveiled in August 2022, the Solus GT is McLaren’s statement of what the ultimate single-seat track-only hypercar should be. Originally conceptualized for the Gran Turismo SPORT video game, this vehicle became a reality with just 25 customer cars produced. The car weighs less than 1,000kg and is powered by an awe-inspiring 5.2-litre V10 engine that revs beyond 10,000rpm, producing 840PS. The aerodynamics, perfected through wind tunnel research and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), generate over 1,200kg of downforce. This combination enables the Solus GT to set some of the fastest lap times of any McLaren vehicle outside of single-seaters, offering an experience akin to driving a Formula 1 car.
In the competitive Timed Shootout Final on Sunday, McLaren factory driver Marvin Kirchhöfer displayed the car’s true potential by clocking an impressive 45.342 seconds, ensuring McLaren claimed the quickest car at Goodwood for the second time in three years, following the 720S GT3X’s triumph in 2021.
### Conclusion
The return of Mika Häkkinen in a McLaren Solus GT at the Goodwood Festival of Speed was not only a thrilling spectacle but also a delightful blend of motorsport heritage and cutting-edge innovation. This event marks another chapter in McLaren’s impressive legacy and underscores the unyielding passion of its enthusiasts and drivers.
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William Rapp, Editor of Automotive.fyi
William Rapp, Supercar Specialist at automotive.fyi, holds a degree in Communications from Pepperdine University. With a deep passion for high-performance vehicles, William brings expert knowledge and detailed reviews of the world's most exciting supercars. Follow William for the latest news, reviews, and insights into the fastest and most luxurious supercars on the market.