In a move that beautifully blends high-end automotive royalty with pure, unadulterated hooliganism, the Monterey Motorsports Festival has announced its headliner for the August 16, 2025, event: a man named “Mad Mike” and his monstrous creation, a McLaren P1 GTR-X drift car. For the uninitiated, that’s like hearing the London Philharmonic is adding a death metal guitarist for a special performance of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” It’s unexpected, slightly sacrilegious, and absolutely guaranteed to be spectacular.
Globally renowned drifter, car builder, and Red Bull athlete Mad Mike Whiddett is no stranger to the winner’s circle, with a celebrated career in Formula DRIFT USA and Japan. But his talents aren’t confined to sliding sideways; he’s also competed in off-road Stadium Trucks, proving his driving prowess is as versatile as it is daring.
The star of this particular show, however, is his infamous “MADMAC.” This isn’t just any McLaren; it’s a P1 GTR-X, a hypercar that in its original form was a track-only weapon for the world’s wealthiest enthusiasts. Whiddett’s team audaciously ripped out its high-tech hybrid powertrain and transplanted a MadLab-built 1000hp 20B rotary turbo engine into its heart. For car aficionados, putting a Japanese rotary engine—famous for its high-revving wail and association with Mazda’s RX-7—into a pinnacle of British engineering is the stuff of fever dreams. Mike has promised to fire up this beast during the festival, allowing fans to witness its “flame-throwing theatrics” and hear the unique roar of the world’s wildest drift hypercar.
This audacious display is the centerpiece of the Monterey Motorsports Festival (MMF), an event carving out a unique niche during the prestigious Monterey Car Week. Held from 5-11 PM at the 22-acre Monterey Fairgrounds, MMF aims to be the accessible, high-energy alternative to stuffier concours events. It’s a Saturday night spectacle that combines a massive car show with a music festival atmosphere, featuring live bands on two stages and a set from a yet-to-be-named legendary DJ.
The festival grounds will be packed with an eclectic mix of vehicles, from hypercars and supercars to American muscle, JDM legends, race cars, and the latest EVs, ensuring there’s something for every automotive taste.
