Opinion: how do you follow a car like the 'perfect' McLaren 750S?

I’ve always believed that some cars are perfect almost by accident. Of course, the teams behind them wanted them to be perfect and knew what they were doing. But I maintain that somehow these rare machines deliver more than the sum of their parts and have a strange alchemy that’s as much by accident and good fortune as design.

The McLaren 720S and now 750S are prime examples of the breed. On paper these things are pretty fabulous, obviously, but in reality they do everything you could ever want with stunning ease. And with seemingly no compromise at all. Want to mooch slowly around town and show off those silly doors that make your inner child dance and shriek with glee? No problem. Need to be in the south of France by tomorrow morning? McLaren’s magical spaceship will whisk you there at high speed and in perfect comfort. Need to demonstrate how wild, intense and hilarious a cutting edge supercar is to a friendly crowd? The 750S is king.

That last point might be quite niche. But, it happened to me recently when Sir Chris Hoy asked if I’d come along to a charity track evening at Donington Park in support of Tour de 4. Chris was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer some three years ago now and has been raising awareness and money ever since. I jumped at the chance to help and my first call was to McLaren.

And so, I found myself rolling into the pitlane in a 750S on P Zero Corsa road tyres in a sea of mostly GT3s and GT3 RS models on super-sticky Cup 2Rs and all driven by national or world champion drivers. Jason Plato, Matt Neal, Marino Franchitti (in a LaFerrari!) and Karun Chandhok, to name but a few. Plus, some bloke named Chris Harris. Intimidated? Yes, surely. Especially as I haven’t driven around Donington for bloody ages and I can’t just potter around safe and steady when people have paid to be thrilled.

Luckily, the 750S saved my blushes. What a car! It made the GT3s look like basic Boxsters down the straight, hung with them on the corners and had all the power and adjustability to slide gratuitously for the many cameras and phones pointing towards the track. Nothing quite hits like a McLaren and the passengers were literally agog at the performance and the sharpness. When I reminded some of them that the upcoming W1 hypercar would weigh roughly the same and have a whole GT3 more power, they glazed over, unable to comprehend the concept.

Therein lies the problem. The 750S is maybe too good. How do you follow it? Why would you buy the even bigger hitter for many multiples of the price when it’s already so outrageously fast? Why buy an Artura when there’s a used 720S alternative that’s so compelling? Who needs a GT S (yes, this car is still made) when the 750S is so comfortable and useable? McLaren’s perfect car is astonishing and it should be lauded for it. But it’s also a massive pain in its backside.

Tour de 4 2026 will take place on Sunday 6 September in Glasgow