The Stig drifts Ford SuperVan on Top Gear test track

The taciturn racing driver drives a fast lap, then grills the tyres to celebrate

The Stig Ford SuperVan

Photo by: YouTube

By: Stefan Wagner

Published by: Brian Potter

Dec 28, 2024 at 2:16am ET

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Whether and how things will continue with Top Gear (the TV format) is currently up in the air, but The Stig is still in the mood for fast laps and lots of smoke. Just a few days ago the taciturn racing driver once again travelled to Dunsfold in a Ford Transit of all things. It soon becomes clear that this is not a typical Transit. Well, not at all.

We're talking about the Ford SuperVan 4.2, of course. The shape here is still somehow reminiscent of a van, despite some extremely wild aerodynamic gimmicks. The side panels are much more of a kind of support pillar for the huge wing that sits majestically at/above the rear of the vehicle.

And behind the front Recaro racing seats, there is actually not much to be seen of a van body. It looks a bit like a pickup truck bed. But there is no storage space. With 2,000 PS output from four electric motors and downforce values of 2,000 kilos at just under 155 mph, the SuperVan has set various track records, including at Pikes Peak in 2023. Its weight: a surprisingly manageable 1,800 kilograms.

Incidentally, The Stig does not set a new lap record on the Top Gear track, but he comes damn close to the best time. The video above this paragraph shows a few laps. The first of these is the one that is driven most seriously. The SuperVan 4.2 crosses the finish line at 1:05.3 minutes, making it the third fastest lap ever driven. Afterwards, the famous driver celebrates by frying the tyres with delight.

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Ford's electric van almost equalled the time of the Lotus T125. This is a pure racing car without a road licence in F1 livery with considerably less power and even less weight. The Renault R24 - a real Formula 1 car - continues to hold a comfortable lead with a time of 59 seconds. However, the SuperVan beat the non-road-going Pagani Zonda R by more than three seconds and even beat the McLaren 720S GT3X by two seconds.

Will the Renault be replaced and a new track record set before the track is demolished? The development of the Dunsfold Park project is progressing. Ultimately, 1,800 residential units and a new park are to be built on the old Aerodrome.

Even more SuperVan:

Ford SuperVan claims Goodwood Festival of Speed Shootout glory