McLaren 765 LT Spider: 24 hours, two shoots - and a mileage limit.

We're not complaining about getting to drive 600 kilometers in a McLaren 765 LT Spider in 24 hours. But rest assured: There are indeed more relaxing activities, too. But that wasn't because of the car, but rather because of the schedule and the mileage limit. On the day of the odometer: the kilometer chronicle of a particularly dynamic production.

Text
Alfred Rzyski
Photos
Matthias Mederer & Marko Knab · ramp.pictures

Böblingen, April 19, 12:00 noon, 0 kilometers:

Showdown! Just in time for High Noon, we get the keys to a McLaren 765LT Spider from our McLaren colleague. The friendly Dörr employee raises his finger in warning: »Watch out for the new semislicks!« »Ah, a layer of resin on the tires?« »Exactly. If you go for it, the next traffic light could be yours,« he says. And no, that doesn't mean the theoretically possible 2.8 seconds from zero to one hundred - but rather what's called cold deformation. But the next XXX follows immediately: »600 kilometers maximum. To Munich, where you'll have to return the car tomorrow.« Great.

Freeway entry A81 in the direction of Stuttgart, April 19, 12:05 p.m., 1 kilometer:

Okay, this is going to be exciting. On the one hand, because of the 24 hours and the 600 kilometers as the limit, but also because the semislicks are actually and really completely new. We noticed that at 65 kilometers per hour on the slip road. Or to be a little more precise: when the rear briefly slid away while steering. 10 years of full-time work go by in a flash - without food and rent, of course. You could also say: 369,000 euros base price. But let's go to the editorial office in Reutlingen and get to work on the day-to-day business first. What must be done, must be done.

»600 kilometers maximum. To Munich, where you'll have to return the car tomorrow.« Great.

Stuttgart Airport, April 19, 9 p.m., 77 kilometers:

Bad Boys, Bad Boys … the sun has set and there is that mood of the action movie classic with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the air. The boss wants a twilight production and he shall have it. Schrödinger's McLaren is of course in on the action - and is photographed as little as possible while driving and only as dynamically as needed. Fellow photographer Mederer runs his hand through his hair and snorts. Yes, Matthias, I feel the same way. We finish at half past ten and head straight home. But I have to say it: the car is awesome. Simply awesome.

Stuttgart airport, April 20, 6 a.m., 139 kilometers:

Us again, the airport again - and obviously a lot of twilight. At least for the pale figure working somewhere here at the airport. Actually, the V8 biturbo and the two tired photographers are just breathing a sigh of relief or stress (thinking about the mileage) - but the busy, remote cab stand is then too much for the tenaciously creeping, female poltergeist: »I'll report that,« we hear. Fine, do that. We switch to the loudest sports mode and roll away. The remaining pictures we didn't manage to take yesterday? Are now in the can anyway.

We take off in the direction of Munich, but with a detour via the Swabian Alb - the A8 near Merklingen is closed due to a rock slide. Nothing works anymore. We have to be there by 12.

Bad Urach, April 20, 8 a.m., 190 kilometers:

Admittedly, we still stopped for a little breakfast - and abused the rear wing of the 765LT as a coffee counter on the side of the road. Or did it the intended way, who knows after such a short night. Up the incline, but behind a truck. That's great. And just before Munich the rush hour traffic awaits too. Rain clouds are also gathering on the horizon. The semislicks laugh - we don't.

Munich, April 20, 11:45 a.m., 420 kilometers:

We've made it. Matthias and I park the McLaren at the dealer in Munich. But only after flash floods, a powerboat interlude and yet another detour. But hey, we're on time, the car is in one piece and the kilometers are far from exhausted. Proudly we press the key into the hand of the McLaren employee. He just says: »A precision landing, guys!« »Excuse me?« »Yes, 590 kilometers, it shouldn't have been much more,« he laughs.

The cell phone vibrates, a message from the boss: »Did everything work out? By the way, I took the McLaren for a little spin yesterday afternoon. Great car!« I show the message to Matthias, we look at each other silently. A little spin, sure.