Red Bull’s Ultimate Drag Race: F1 vs MotoGP, Rally, and a 2,000HP SuperVan
In a once-in-a-generation automotive spectacle, Red Bull joined forces with the popular YouTube channel carwow to stage a no-holds-barred, five-way drag race that put some of the world’s most extreme machines head-to-head. The question: Can anything beat a Formula 1 car in a straight-line sprint?
The contenders? A legendary F1 car, a MotoGP superbike, a Rallycross beast, a high-tech World Rally Championship contender, and—possibly the most outrageous of them all—a futuristic 2,040-horsepower Ford SuperVan 4.2.
Spoiler: The result wasn’t as predictable as you might think.
The Gladiators of Speed
Red Bull’s engineering showcase brought together elite representatives from five motorsport disciplines, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and cult following. Here’s how the lineup looked:
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Formula 1: RB8 (Red Bull Racing)
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Driver: Liam Lawson 🇳🇿 (Visa Cash App RB)
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Specs: 800+ hp, 2.4L V8, rear-wheel drive, lightweight carbon chassis
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Legacy: 2012 Formula One World Championship-winning car (Sebastian Vettel’s title machine)
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MotoGP: KTM RC16
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Rider: Dani Pedrosa 🇪🇸 (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
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Specs: ~270 hp, 1000cc V4, weight around 157 kg (346 lbs), top-tier aerodynamic design
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Rallycross: WRX Supercar
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Driver: Timmy Hansen 🇸🇪 (2019 FIA World RX Champion)
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Specs: 600 hp, 2.0L turbocharged engine, AWD, tuned for explosive acceleration and agility on mixed terrain
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WRC: Ford Puma Rally1
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Driver: Adrien Fourmaux 🇫🇷 (M-Sport Ford World Rally Team)
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Specs: 550 hp, 1.6L hybrid turbo, AWD, heavily reinforced for rally durability
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Ford SuperVan 4.2
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Driver: Romain Dumas 🇫🇷 (Pikes Peak record holder)
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Specs: 1,500 kW (approx. 2,040 hp), electric powertrain, AWD, designed for experimental dominance
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The Drag Strip Showdown
Filmed in a controlled setting and posted to Red Bull’s official YouTube channel, the race took place on a long, wide strip of tarmac that allowed each vehicle to demonstrate maximum power and traction.
Off the line, the electric Ford SuperVan stunned spectators with its ferocious instant torque, rocketing ahead thanks to its 2,000+ horsepower and advanced electric driveline. Despite its size, the SuperVan moved like a hypercar on steroids.
Mid-track, the Formula 1 RB8 began to claw back with surgical precision. Once its rear wheels found grip and its aerodynamics kicked in, it surged forward like a jet fighter at low altitude. The MotoGP bike, while lightning quick off the line in the hands of veteran Dani Pedrosa, struggled with maintaining full throttle due to its wheelie-prone dynamics.
The Rallycross and WRC cars, while incredible feats of engineering, were clearly outgunned in a straight-line test. Their designs are optimized for brutal terrain, tight turns, and split-second adaptability—not for highway-speed drag racing.
Final Results: Did F1 Prevail?
In a photo-finish spectacle, the Red Bull RB8 Formula 1 car edged out the Ford SuperVan, proving that sheer horsepower alone isn’t enough to overcome years of aerodynamic refinement, lightweight design, and elite motorsport tuning. But the SuperVan’s performance was nothing short of jaw-dropping—it even beat the MotoGP bike by a comfortable margin.
Final Drag Race Order:
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Red Bull RB8 (Formula 1)
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Ford SuperVan 4.2
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KTM RC16 (MotoGP)
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WRX Rallycross Car
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Ford Puma Rally1 (WRC)
Engineering Insights
This drag race wasn’t just entertainment—it was a raw demonstration of how different motorsport disciplines prioritize different forms of performance:
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F1 cars are designed for peak power-to-weight efficiency and downforce-dependent grip.
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Electric vehicles like the SuperVan deliver instantaneous torque with zero delay.
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Bikes showcase unmatched agility and power-to-weight but suffer in stability and grip.
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Rally vehicles are built for chaos, not calm tarmac—meaning they shine in conditions this race didn’t replicate.
A Win for Motorsports Culture
Red Bull’s multi-discipline drag race is more than a viral stunt. It’s a celebration of automotive diversity—how different machines, designed for vastly different environments, can all push the limits of speed in their own way.
More than 5 million viewers watched the spectacle within its first 48 hours, underscoring global hunger for authentic, high-octane motorsport content.
As Mat Watson of carwow quipped at the finish line, “You can’t really compare these machines—but you absolutely can enjoy watching them try.”
Watch the Full Race
Catch the full race and behind-the-scenes engineering breakdown on Red Bull’s official YouTube channel or visit @carwow for extended content.
