Formula 1 driver Lando Norris has lapped the Silverstone circuit in the UK in a full-size racing car built out of… Lego. Powered by a top speed of 64 kilometres per hour – compared to 350 km/h for his Formula 1 car – the Lego version of British carmaker McLaren’s P1 model took on corners and straights over nearly 6 kilometres of track.
To replicate the racing car in real size, more than 340,000 Lego pieces were assembled during 2,210 hours of work, according to an announcement from the famous Danish toy manufacturer published in mid-September. Including the steel chassis and the wheels, the car weighs a total of 1,220 kilograms – compared to 1,394 kg for the real version.
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On the propulsion side, 768 Lego motors were integrated into the vehicle. The driver’s verdict? “It was like a car. The steering was very good, although the mirrors were a bit agitated,” said Lando Norris.
For assembly, the engineers of the toy manufacturer and the car manufacturer relied on the Lego Technic series. Released in the late 1970s, this range includes pulleys, gears and levers to build vehicles. Among the main challenges, the engineers of the famous Danish toy manufacturer had to find the right formula to replicate as closely as possible the curves of the body of the original racing car.
First life-size Lego car to turn
“This is the first time we have created a Lego Technic model with suspension and chassis,” says Martin Šmida, engineer at the Lego Group. With the McLaren P1 replica, Lego is taking a leap forward in 1:1 scale vehicles, with a model that can turn. One of the previous brick replicas – the Bugatti Chiron, released in 2018 – only moves in a straight line and has a top speed of 20 km/h.
The toymaker and McLaren are not planning a new collaboration. “This project marks the latest in a long line of collaborations between the Lego Group and McLaren,” the Lego Group said in a statement. The one-off, life-size model is not available for sale.
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
