At the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024, Oracle Red Bull Racing Team and Red Bull Advanced Technologies unveiled the RB17—a track-only hypercar that offers extensive customization options for its owners, ranging from exterior paint colors to interior materials. The RB17 features a two-seat configuration and is built on a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Notably, the design team has strategically positioned the engine at the center of the vehicle to optimize weight distribution and handling.
The RB17 showcases a ‘semi-stressed’ aesthetic that enhances body rigidity and durability. It is powered by a naturally aspirated V10 engine, which eschews turbocharging in favor of harnessing raw power through ten cylinders—an increasingly rare approach in contemporary racing engineering. This formidable engine can reach up to 15,000 RPM (revolutions per minute), translating into exceptional power output and speed.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed serves as an ideal platform for introducing this remarkable hypercar, given its impressive specifications: over 1,200 horsepower and a weight under 2,000 pounds (approximately 900 kilograms). By integrating cutting-edge technologies with advanced racing insights, Red Bull has engineered the RB17 to offer performance levels akin to those seen in Formula One vehicles.
Indeed, the RB17 achieves lap times comparable to those of Formula 1 vehicles, boasting a top speed exceeding 217 mph (350 kph). This level of performance is made possible by its powerful engine, which transmits power to the rear wheels through an advanced gearbox constructed from lightweight carbon fiber.
Production of the RB17 is limited to just 50 units. While not all owners may be professional F1 drivers, they can rest assured; Red Bull’s engineering teams have designed the hypercar for ease of operation and minimal maintenance requirements.
Developed by Red Bull Advanced Technologies under the guidance of Adrian Newey, Chief Technical Officer at Red Bull Racing, this hypercar serves as one of his final contributions before he departs from Red Bull in 2025. For fans, the track-only RB17 represents a culmination of Newey’s vision and expertise that has been years in the making.