The Thrill of Track Time: A Comparative Look at the McLaren P1 GTR and Aston Martin Vulcan

Within half a lap, it's clear that I'm still intimidated by this beast in front of me. The Aston Martin Vulcan is like blowing flames at me, its high-speed capabilities making my heart skip a beat. But as I continue to follow it around the track, I begin to appreciate the intricacies of its design and the sheer force it puts out - 820 horsepower, that is. It's no wonder Jethro Bond thinks this car has an edge over the McLaren P1 GTR, which boasts a whopping 170 horsepower more.

As I watch the Vulcan tear around the track, I'm struck by its raw power and aggression. The P1 GTR, on the other hand, feels like a more refined and approachable beast. Its high-speed capabilities are undeniable, but it's almost as if McLaren has tamed this wild animal to make it feel usable. Meanwhile, the Vulcan is an entirely different story - it's a GT3 racer turned into something even bigger, louder, and angrier.

But beneath the noise and flames, the Vulcan feels surprisingly easy to drive. It's balanced and pretty friendly, making it accessible to drivers who might otherwise find themselves intimidated by its raw power. The P1 GTR, on the other hand, is a different story altogether. Its straight-line speed is almost tame compared to the Vulcan's sheer fury and noise - but it takes all that downforce and power to create an experience that's truly one-of-a-kind.

As I take the wheel of the Vulcan for myself, I'm immediately struck by its unique personality. The first couple of laps are terrifying, as I struggle to find my footing with this physical and bumping-around car. But as I begin to trust it more, I realize that it's never truly not scary - just different. The motor is intoxicating, a force that I could never get bored of.

But now, with the Vulcan at my disposal, I have the perfect opportunity to explore different tracks and push its limits in new and exciting ways. And as we take turns behind the wheel of our respective cars, I'm reminded of why I love them both so much - it's not just about raw performance, but about the unique experiences each car offers.

One thing is certain: we're never going to get bored with these two track toys. They're like two sides of the same coin, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The P1 GTR is incredible, offering a melding of the most intense straight-line performance with almost unbelievable approachability and precision. But the Vulcan - oh, the Vulcan feels like a GT3 racer on steroids, only bigger, louder, and angrier.

As we conclude our track day, it's clear that these cars are not just machines to be driven - they're experiences to be had. And while the rain may eventually sweep in and put an end to our fun, I know that this hour has been enough reason alone for me to invest in one of these incredible track toys.

But now, as we stand on the side of the track, watching the cars disappear into the distance, it's clear that there's no easy answer. Do you choose the P1 GTR, with its refined and approachable nature? Or do you go for the Vulcan, with its raw power and aggression? For me, at least, the choice is clear - I'll take the Vulcan, thank you very much. There's just something about that motor that I could never get enough of.

And as we make plans to swap cars occasionally and explore different tracks in each other's shoes, it's clear that this experience has been one for the books. The McLaren P1 GTR and Aston Martin Vulcan - two track toys that will never fail to deliver, no matter what the day brings.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enso Henry and I have been asked to nominate our ultimate trap card and I think I pulled an absolute blinder exactly in fact I think I've already won this test because I haven't turned up with a Caterham or radical or an aerial this is my ultimate trap car p1 GTR today is gonna be awesome and Henry does not stab eight shards that's nice 620 our ultimate track car I brought just a p1 GTR isn't it yes should we just go home now call it my car wins no no no it's just my road car okay nothing yeah so where's your car so this is our day of days p1 GTR and Vulcan why well the same reason that McLaren and Aston Iron Maiden in the first place because it seemed like a very good idea indeed any objections pit lane and Rock'em in a p1 GTR following of bolt kit how nuts is that so it's fair sound pretty nervous right now I haven't done that lots of race cars or things approaching s try get some heat into these cartoons to start with he's in the brakes and hear the screaming her so Henry is putting something out the bag doesn't he bring in a Vulcan but I have to say I should still have an advantage I have a thousand PS mine under babysit Clause power mashing changer straight warnin I got it fire spending noise masses of numbers snip presumably I will have a bit more performance but downforce wise is hard to say how about seven there one making with a five another with a shaker then all the way onto the road but before we worry too much about which is fastest that which is best to meet who really cares let me see look at these two cars let's just take a moment to take stock of what they represent these are effectively track play cars they don't conform to any rules so they're not restricted by any rules they just track they toys which is just completely afraid isn't it so what are the vital statistics of these two cars well let's deal with the similarities first both cost around two million pounds when they went on sale both the rear-wheel drive both have carbon fibre tubs carbon fiber bodywork carbon brakes and crazy little button festooned steering wheels but that's pretty much where the similarities end technically both a mid-engined and in the Aston the engine is obviously in front of the driver and in the McLaren it's behind Volken produces its power with naturally aspirated 7-liter development last ins 6-litre gt3 race car engine and feeds it to the track through a sequential extract gearbox meanwhile the McLaren utilizes the same 3.8 liter turbocharged v8 and hybrid systems that have found in the p1 road car just through the wicks turned up a bit the twin clutch gearbox is also the same as the one in the road car meaning it's far more civilized only 24 Vulcans were produced but roughly twice as many p1 GTRs were eventually sold so the Aston is definitely rarer however the p1 will reach 60 miles an hour a touch quicker at 2.8 seconds and although both will crack 200 miles an hour flat-out the p1 GTR will go switch in faster thanks to its DRS system if you had to pick a party piece the McLaren's is undoubtedly its ability to talk filled with its electric motors while the Vulcans tech highlight must be its sophisticated just from spool valve dampers on the onboard pushrod suspension if you're getting a very racecar vibe from the Aston then you'd be right but strangely it's also a very beautiful almost luxurious car in its design architectural cabinets really useful Hilary well one new jewel is coming out of that car my mattress it has Griffon traction but it doesn't have so much traction like a racecar that when it lets go it's snappy and you need races reactions there's still some Road car DNA in that and that's not a criticism that's a good thing it means you can bully it and slide it around a bit more freely than you can in a race car and it tolerates and it seems to enjoy that it's got this amazing traction control system which you can just leave us Wow that moment quit and it spits flames that's cool it's bit how followed a Vulcan spitting flames in a few one GTR I think this is gonna rank as one of those days you don't forget yeah they say actually the case it's protective rear diffuser that doesn't start much punch earlier start accelerating on air all the way through I beneath of cars so 190 miles an hour which I'm working today there you should do not know --left one just not as sticky to see oh wow I love it what that Vulcan looks like it's fantastic love it what ridiculous day Wow yeah he's really got some grit through the high speed stuff looks so secure on the way into the corners Wow no well that b-flat music spike but st. waiters the p1 GTR and I'm gonna hold it up through here cuz I'm not going to go too fast Wow Mira's full of Vulcan noisy kind of way please do not move they don't stick sir to that wall got more power as well he got hybrid systems and unbelievable you could have all this performance but have the confidence to actually use it to open it out get all the foam-filled attractor to help you Wow whoa what an amazing thing after the initial intense laps it's time to take a breath and come back to the pits for a bit of a debrief how's this ah it was awesome if I've forgotten just like the acceleration is nuts it's like proper hyperdrive just you come out the corner and you think you'll think your fall problem than you a little bit more then he's crazy but what's cool about it it's like McLaren road cars in the sense like really good visibility it looks intimidating but you jump in part for the fact it's so quick pretty soon you feel relaxed to know I think it's got that road car DNA going on so you'll love it because you but within half a lap you'll oh yeah I'm into this within half a lap in that you are still scared I was following it and it's like blowing flames at me and you're clearly working quite quite I'm impressed with it through the high speed stuff it looks really high speed stuff through the low speed stuff you kind of the problem is just feels so far away yeah and then it's round probably very quickly actually end up on the full 820 very horsepower bit I think I've always gone Jethro might think that 820 great calls bat isn't quite enough but I think he loves the Vulcans racecar feel me I'm about to fill what an extra 170 brake horsepower and all that monstrous electric boosted talk feels like are you seizing it insists there likes it walking from some dark nineteenth-century cottage into a conservatory or greenhouse or something so much more light in here so much easier to see p1 GTR might have a less intimidating view from the driver's seat but the straight-line speed of it is instantly on another level will be one look so I know I can eat your up pretty good just saying poor grip by he's called the grudge so there's no question get away reality disappears my turning speed is better definitely Wow chasing a p1 GTR the Vulcan is quite full meaning this car is so impressive so basically easy to drive like the p1 but in a different way it's got more of that an authentic racecar meal Wow talk about horizontal people you know he's coming to a circuit for the first time I think I'd want to be the p1 GTR rather than the Aston simply because although it's faster it's very light confidence on turning breaking in with a sideline said those things just meaning you can push it much harder from yeah so much more quickly so two different characters for the same really a brilliant favor you would never get bored of that never God that sounds like an obvious thing to say as you can tell by now we're having quite a good time and failing to say anything particularly well it bothered we found a very good idea we hope that a very good idea those ultimately one GTR was some of the best I've ever had a clear track time to get into a groove and a Vulcan to chase seeing so intimately wage cars rose have strengths allowing the gaps to grow and shrink was totally absorbing there was any doubt as to why you'd want one of these track toys well this hour was reason enough for me sadly this being Britain the rain eventually swept in and put a premature stop to our fun but even that couldn't really dampen our enthusiasm for this extraordinary pair of cars which share a common purpose but almost completely different philosophies the p1 GTR is incredible melding the most intense straight line performance with almost unbelievable approachability and the corners it feels precise and progressive letting you really push the front end and even hang out the rear visibility is sensational so you can spot every apex while the gearbox is smooth and refined it seems mad but McLaren has made nearly a thousand brake horsepower feel usable you really feel like you can hustle the volcan is different it feels like a gt3 racer only bigger louder and angrier but beneath the noise and the flames is a car that's also easy to drive balanced and ultimately pretty friendly it seems crazy to say it but the straight-line performance is almost tame compared to the p1 GTR but it takes you to a whole new world of aerodynamic downforce and what the v12 gives away in performance it takes back in fury and noise and fire so learning question we're still taking home this Volcom or maybe p1 GTR that's so different on me I think the kids of what you use in foreign because you want to go and explore different tracks and stuff and learn I think I felt much more confident yeah straight away in the p1 GTR actually as much as I love that and I love the theater of it I think and I'd love to get better alone I think right here right now something you said you can go and do a track day somewhere haven't been on is old yeah I would take that yeah it's addictive I think not just that performance but yeah I'm gonna switch I I love the Vulcan just like the first couple of laps it's scary but as soon as you learn to trust it a bit yeah no it's never not fully scary because it's physical and it's bumping around but that motor I could never get bored of it so I'm taking the Volcom horse which I'm happy with and we've got one each anyway then we can get deal yeah we can swap occasionally more days like this different place it's alright see it the next one yeah he'll see some ice on it sadly for us I don't think that ever will be another day like this but as Bogart didn't say to Bergen will always have Rock Ian youso Henry and I have been asked to nominate our ultimate trap card and I think I pulled an absolute blinder exactly in fact I think I've already won this test because I haven't turned up with a Caterham or radical or an aerial this is my ultimate trap car p1 GTR today is gonna be awesome and Henry does not stab eight shards that's nice 620 our ultimate track car I brought just a p1 GTR isn't it yes should we just go home now call it my car wins no no no it's just my road car okay nothing yeah so where's your car so this is our day of days p1 GTR and Vulcan why well the same reason that McLaren and Aston Iron Maiden in the first place because it seemed like a very good idea indeed any objections pit lane and Rock'em in a p1 GTR following of bolt kit how nuts is that so it's fair sound pretty nervous right now I haven't done that lots of race cars or things approaching s try get some heat into these cartoons to start with he's in the brakes and hear the screaming her so Henry is putting something out the bag doesn't he bring in a Vulcan but I have to say I should still have an advantage I have a thousand PS mine under babysit Clause power mashing changer straight warnin I got it fire spending noise masses of numbers snip presumably I will have a bit more performance but downforce wise is hard to say how about seven there one making with a five another with a shaker then all the way onto the road but before we worry too much about which is fastest that which is best to meet who really cares let me see look at these two cars let's just take a moment to take stock of what they represent these are effectively track play cars they don't conform to any rules so they're not restricted by any rules they just track they toys which is just completely afraid isn't it so what are the vital statistics of these two cars well let's deal with the similarities first both cost around two million pounds when they went on sale both the rear-wheel drive both have carbon fibre tubs carbon fiber bodywork carbon brakes and crazy little button festooned steering wheels but that's pretty much where the similarities end technically both a mid-engined and in the Aston the engine is obviously in front of the driver and in the McLaren it's behind Volken produces its power with naturally aspirated 7-liter development last ins 6-litre gt3 race car engine and feeds it to the track through a sequential extract gearbox meanwhile the McLaren utilizes the same 3.8 liter turbocharged v8 and hybrid systems that have found in the p1 road car just through the wicks turned up a bit the twin clutch gearbox is also the same as the one in the road car meaning it's far more civilized only 24 Vulcans were produced but roughly twice as many p1 GTRs were eventually sold so the Aston is definitely rarer however the p1 will reach 60 miles an hour a touch quicker at 2.8 seconds and although both will crack 200 miles an hour flat-out the p1 GTR will go switch in faster thanks to its DRS system if you had to pick a party piece the McLaren's is undoubtedly its ability to talk filled with its electric motors while the Vulcans tech highlight must be its sophisticated just from spool valve dampers on the onboard pushrod suspension if you're getting a very racecar vibe from the Aston then you'd be right but strangely it's also a very beautiful almost luxurious car in its design architectural cabinets really useful Hilary well one new jewel is coming out of that car my mattress it has Griffon traction but it doesn't have so much traction like a racecar that when it lets go it's snappy and you need races reactions there's still some Road car DNA in that and that's not a criticism that's a good thing it means you can bully it and slide it around a bit more freely than you can in a race car and it tolerates and it seems to enjoy that it's got this amazing traction control system which you can just leave us Wow that moment quit and it spits flames that's cool it's bit how followed a Vulcan spitting flames in a few one GTR I think this is gonna rank as one of those days you don't forget yeah they say actually the case it's protective rear diffuser that doesn't start much punch earlier start accelerating on air all the way through I beneath of cars so 190 miles an hour which I'm working today there you should do not know --left one just not as sticky to see oh wow I love it what that Vulcan looks like it's fantastic love it what ridiculous day Wow yeah he's really got some grit through the high speed stuff looks so secure on the way into the corners Wow no well that b-flat music spike but st. waiters the p1 GTR and I'm gonna hold it up through here cuz I'm not going to go too fast Wow Mira's full of Vulcan noisy kind of way please do not move they don't stick sir to that wall got more power as well he got hybrid systems and unbelievable you could have all this performance but have the confidence to actually use it to open it out get all the foam-filled attractor to help you Wow whoa what an amazing thing after the initial intense laps it's time to take a breath and come back to the pits for a bit of a debrief how's this ah it was awesome if I've forgotten just like the acceleration is nuts it's like proper hyperdrive just you come out the corner and you think you'll think your fall problem than you a little bit more then he's crazy but what's cool about it it's like McLaren road cars in the sense like really good visibility it looks intimidating but you jump in part for the fact it's so quick pretty soon you feel relaxed to know I think it's got that road car DNA going on so you'll love it because you but within half a lap you'll oh yeah I'm into this within half a lap in that you are still scared I was following it and it's like blowing flames at me and you're clearly working quite quite I'm impressed with it through the high speed stuff it looks really high speed stuff through the low speed stuff you kind of the problem is just feels so far away yeah and then it's round probably very quickly actually end up on the full 820 very horsepower bit I think I've always gone Jethro might think that 820 great calls bat isn't quite enough but I think he loves the Vulcans racecar feel me I'm about to fill what an extra 170 brake horsepower and all that monstrous electric boosted talk feels like are you seizing it insists there likes it walking from some dark nineteenth-century cottage into a conservatory or greenhouse or something so much more light in here so much easier to see p1 GTR might have a less intimidating view from the driver's seat but the straight-line speed of it is instantly on another level will be one look so I know I can eat your up pretty good just saying poor grip by he's called the grudge so there's no question get away reality disappears my turning speed is better definitely Wow chasing a p1 GTR the Vulcan is quite full meaning this car is so impressive so basically easy to drive like the p1 but in a different way it's got more of that an authentic racecar meal Wow talk about horizontal people you know he's coming to a circuit for the first time I think I'd want to be the p1 GTR rather than the Aston simply because although it's faster it's very light confidence on turning breaking in with a sideline said those things just meaning you can push it much harder from yeah so much more quickly so two different characters for the same really a brilliant favor you would never get bored of that never God that sounds like an obvious thing to say as you can tell by now we're having quite a good time and failing to say anything particularly well it bothered we found a very good idea we hope that a very good idea those ultimately one GTR was some of the best I've ever had a clear track time to get into a groove and a Vulcan to chase seeing so intimately wage cars rose have strengths allowing the gaps to grow and shrink was totally absorbing there was any doubt as to why you'd want one of these track toys well this hour was reason enough for me sadly this being Britain the rain eventually swept in and put a premature stop to our fun but even that couldn't really dampen our enthusiasm for this extraordinary pair of cars which share a common purpose but almost completely different philosophies the p1 GTR is incredible melding the most intense straight line performance with almost unbelievable approachability and the corners it feels precise and progressive letting you really push the front end and even hang out the rear visibility is sensational so you can spot every apex while the gearbox is smooth and refined it seems mad but McLaren has made nearly a thousand brake horsepower feel usable you really feel like you can hustle the volcan is different it feels like a gt3 racer only bigger louder and angrier but beneath the noise and the flames is a car that's also easy to drive balanced and ultimately pretty friendly it seems crazy to say it but the straight-line performance is almost tame compared to the p1 GTR but it takes you to a whole new world of aerodynamic downforce and what the v12 gives away in performance it takes back in fury and noise and fire so learning question we're still taking home this Volcom or maybe p1 GTR that's so different on me I think the kids of what you use in foreign because you want to go and explore different tracks and stuff and learn I think I felt much more confident yeah straight away in the p1 GTR actually as much as I love that and I love the theater of it I think and I'd love to get better alone I think right here right now something you said you can go and do a track day somewhere haven't been on is old yeah I would take that yeah it's addictive I think not just that performance but yeah I'm gonna switch I I love the Vulcan just like the first couple of laps it's scary but as soon as you learn to trust it a bit yeah no it's never not fully scary because it's physical and it's bumping around but that motor I could never get bored of it so I'm taking the Volcom horse which I'm happy with and we've got one each anyway then we can get deal yeah we can swap occasionally more days like this different place it's alright see it the next one yeah he'll see some ice on it sadly for us I don't think that ever will be another day like this but as Bogart didn't say to Bergen will always have Rock Ian you\n"