How Supercar Racing Shaped These 5 Exotic Cars

Professional racers and supercar enthusiasts alike can appreciate the beauty and performance of F1 and other supercar racing vehicles. Tech and design elements from the raceway don’t always stay on the raceway, though. Many street legal variants of these supercars make use of superior motorsports tech to offer unparalleled driving experiences.

From Racecars to Supercars

Here’s how 5 street legal vehicles take inspiration from their racetrack counterparts.

1. Ferrari Enzo

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Ferraris have competed in every single Formula One Grand Prix and won a total of 248 times in the F1 World Championship. These high-speed sports cars and their dedicated racers have set numerous lap time records across multiple F1 Grand Prix races.

With superior performance like that, it’s no wonder that street legal Ferrari models take cues from their motorsports-winning counterparts. Perhaps no model embodies the spirit of the speedway as much as the Ferrari Enzo, named after the man who created these world-class supercars himself.

The Ferrari Enzo sports tech seen in many Grand Prix vehicles, such as a specialized carbon-fiber body and an F1 gearbox. In addition to these speedway-inspired design choices, this model also has tech not allowed in the Grand Prix, such as front underbody flaps. The result is a monster of a vehicle that can produce up to 1,709 lb of downforce and reach a top speed of 221 mph, creating an unmatched supercar driving experience.

2. McLaren 720S

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McLaren is practically synonymous with luxury and performance, and the McLaren 720S is no exception. This model takes design hints from nature, modern tech, and F1 vehicles to create a supercar with massive power outputs of 710 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque. It can reach speeds up to 212 mph and go from 0 to 60 in just 2.8 seconds.

The vehicle’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission system, carbon-fiber MonoCage II, variable drift control, and suspension are all directly inspired by tech the McLaren Formula 1 Team uses. The interior also sports racecar-inspired seating. Coupled with nearly unobstructed driver visibility, the 720S truly feels like it belongs on the speedway.

3. Porsche 911 GT3 RS

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The Porsche Carrera Cup is dedicated to the racing of Porsche 911 GT3s, and it’s easy to see why this one-make cup is so popular: these vehicles are a joy to watch. The street legal versions of the Porsche 911 GT3—especially the GT3 RS variants—don’t differ much from their raceway-inspired counterparts, incorporating much of the same tech that helps these vehicles set records in Supercar Championships (formerly Repco Supercars Championships).

Take the 7-speed PDK transmission, for example. Originally designed for the racetrack, this system is now a mainstay of many Porsche models due to its superior performance and distinctly “sporty” feel. This system combines with other design elements that generate more downforce, like the front axle’s aero wishbone and Porsche Active Aerodynamics. Best of all, the street legal GT3 RS has a great look that’s incredibly similar to the ones that grace the speedways.

4. Lamborghini Huracán STO

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Lamborghini Huracán variants have competed in events all around the world, including the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour, 24 Hours of Daytona, and Super Trofeo. The superior engineering that helps this vehicle compete on the track also makes its way to Huracán streetcar variants. The Huracán STO especially offers Lambo enthusiasts a sporty experience.

A mostly carbon-fiber body, aerodynamic rear fins, bucket seats with racing harnesses, responsive handling, and various driving modes mean this vehicle is fast and easy to handle—even when cornering. The STO can reach a top speed of 192 mph, go from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds, and can produce 640 hp and 416 lb-ft of torque.

5. Mercedes–AMG GT R

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The Mercedes–AMG GT has competed in racing events all over the world, including the Sandown 500 of the V8 Supercars Championship and Nürburgring of the German Touring Car Masters Series (DTM). With its superior performance, it has turned heads since its debut, winning titles all over the world.

DTM and AMG GT3 customer sport racing experiences directly inspired the Mercedes–AMG GT R, according to Mercedes-Benz. The manufacturer says that racetrack-inspired features engineered to boost performance include a lightweight design, a V8 engine, active aerodynamics, and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The resulting vehicle can produce 577 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, reach a top speed of 198 mph, and go from 0 to 60 in roughly 3.5 seconds.