By Chris Skeldon 
LEGO and McLaren Automotive embark on the LEGO Technic Challenge “The hardest yet”with a unique, fully drivable McLaren P1 recreated from LEGO Technic elements. And as if that wasn’t enough, McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris was called upon to take on the ultimate challenge of completing a lap of the British Silverstone racetrack in a 1:1 scale LEGO Technic McLaren P1.
This full-size replica of the McLaren P1 is made from 342,817 LEGO Technic elements, weighs approximately 1,220 kg and includes: “Lots of really cool engineering features.”The car features fully functional steering, making it the first large drivable LEGO building. The design features an electric motor made up of Lego Technic Function batteries and an electric car battery, “allowing it to have more independence than any other LEGO model to date.”.
“Having worked on the original McLaren P1 programme, it is amazing to see so many elements of the original McLaren P1 brought to life so realistically by the LEGO Technic team on the full-scale model. The car was an icon at the time. I hope that through this collaboration with the LEGO Group, we can inspire the next generation of designers and engineers to push the boundaries of automotive innovation. Ben Gulliver, Director of Test and Development at McLaren Automotive, says:
building
This massive build was carried out by 23 design, engineering and construction experts from the Lego Group and McLaren Automotive, with 8,344 hours of development and construction requiring 393 different LEGO Technic elements.
Once the car was assembled, all that was left to do was begin the final challenge, and as a replica of a McLaren supercar, there was nothing quite like having McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris behind the wheel. The Briton was up to the challenge, taking on the twists and turns of the 5,891km track and completing the lap at Silverstone. With the challenge so huge, Silverstone was the perfect location given McLaren’s history with the so-called Home of British Motorsport.
“This project is the latest in a long list of collaborations between the LEGO Group and McLaren, bringing together McLaren engineers and the LEGO Model Production team from concept to final build. McLaren’s automotive and engineering expertise has been invaluable in helping us produce as authentic a model as possible of the original McLaren P1™, allowing us to realise the dream. It has been incredibly exciting to see McLaren F1 Team driver Lando Norris take control of the car we have created.”“It is a great honour for the LEGO Group to have such a great project,” confirms Lukasz Horak, Senior Project Manager for Model Production at the LEGO Group.
hiring
LEGO Technic McLaren P1 1:8 (42172) set available at www.LEGO.com/McLaren At LEGO Stores for a suggested retail price of €449.99. With a 7-speed gearbox with dual-clutch transmission, suspension, V8 engine, adjustable rear wing and dihedral doors with advanced opening mechanisms, “Details that make it a ‘must-have’ for all supercar enthusiasts and McLaren fans.”.