The Speedtail is McLaren’s fastest car ever. It’s able to hit 252 mph flat-out. That’s faster than even the legendary F1, which held the record for fastest production car for over a decade. But is it fast enough to beat an F-35 fighter jet in a race? Top Gear brought the two together to find out.

In order to see just how quickly the Speedtail could go, host Chris Harris organized a race around a runway between a red Speedtail and one of the Royal Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II. The F-35 is the latest in Lockheed Martin’s arsenal of highly maneuverable fighter jets, capable of 1200 mph flat-out, with a price tag of $124 million.

McLaren’s $2.2-million Speedtail seems like peanuts in comparison, but it’s still an amazing piece of engineering. With over 1000 horsepower from a hybrid drive system, a center-seating position, and some wild active aero components, it’s one of the most technically advanced cars on the road.

Sadly, the Speedtail’s twin-turbo V-8 powertrain isn’t enough to trump the F-35 in a race around a runway, even with driving ace Harris at the wheel. But it’s still super-cool to watch these titans of human achievement go head-to-head.

From: Road & Track

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