Mad Mike Unveils MadMac Rotary Hypercar at Goodwood 2024
In 2024, ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett celebrates ten years of transforming drifting at Goodwood by unveiling his boldest creation, MadMac, developed with Lanzante, a leading British automotive engineering specialist. The rotary-powered hypercar delivers 1,000bhp and promises thrilling, flame-spitting performance on the Goodwood hill climb, blending hypercar theatre with precision drift control.
As ‘Mad Mike’s’ YouTube channel shows, the Lanzante and MadLab teams combined deep technical and engineering expertise to build a one-off machine. A brainstorming session between Dean Lanzante and Mike at the 2023 Festival of Speed Ball sparked the idea for a bespoke McLaren. Within a tight 100-day window, Mad Mike Motorsports in New Zealand and O’Gara Coach in the United States brought the concept to life.
Drawing on experience from the McLaren P1 programme, Dean Lanzante’s crew engineered a rigid carbon fibre chassis with an FIA-approved roll cage. They created custom bodywork using stretched P1 GTR and Lanzante-developed P1 LM panels, shaping a more aggressive rear and broader front arches to suit Mike’s signature drifting manoeuvres. With the structure complete, Mike and his crew moved into the project’s second stage.
“We thrive on creating spectacular vehicles, and MadMac is a testament to this,” Dean stated as the car left the UK. “Collaborating with Mad Mike, a top figure in motorsport, allowed us to tackle new challenges and showcase our craftsmanship.”
As the unveiling approached at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Petersfield team prepared MadMac for its flight to MadLab in Hampton Downs, New Zealand. On arrival, the crew advanced from sketches to final plans, adapting the car from a track-optimised machine to a drift-ready weapon that would headline Goodwood’s hill.
During the teardown, the team replaced the original 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo with a custom-built three-rotor 20B turbo engine, echoing Mike’s long-standing preference for rotary engines. Integrating this unit into McLaren architecture required a unique transfer case to connect it to the existing sequential gearbox, preserving response and reliability for sustained drift runs.
Working against the clock, the engineers designed custom steering components, bespoke wheels, and upgraded electronics, including a Haltech ECU and a modified gear shifter to sharpen drifting capabilities. A collaboration with Rocket Bunny amplified the hypercar’s aggressive stance, aligning the aero and bodywork with high-angle drift dynamics.
After rigorous testing, the team signed off on MadMac and returned the car to the UK for its Goodwood debut, aligning with Mike’s tenth drifting anniversary. The project pushes the boundaries of automotive design and celebrates New Zealand racing legend Bruce McLaren, while showcasing Lanzante’s craftsmanship and MadLab’s ingenuity.
MadMac’s unveiling in a special Red Bull livery and its inaugural Goodwood hill climb mark the start of a global journey. The rotary engine hypercar aims to captivate audiences and redefine the limits of drifting performance, engineering innovation, and McLaren-based custom builds.
