How a Giant Fan on the Back of a Hypercar Became Gordon Murray’s Greatest Invention
It may look like something out of science fiction — a giant spinning fan at the rear of a hypercar — but the GMA T.50has made it a reality. This wild-looking feature isn’t just for show. It’s the culmination of over five decades of aerodynamic obsession, and it all started with an idea that was once banned in Formula 1. Let's dig into the engineering mind of Gordon Murray, and why this fan might be the most fascinating piece of tech in modern supercar history.
A Brief History of the Fan Car: From Chaparral to Brabham
The story begins not in England, but in 1960s America. That’s when a pair of racing enthusiasts, Jim Hall and Hap Sharp, launched the revolutionary Chaparral 2J — a boxy racecar with two massive fans ripped straight from a military tank. These fans sucked air from underneath the car, creating a vacuum effect that “glued” the car to the track. The result? Incredible downforce, even at low speeds.
It was brilliant. It was controversial. And it was banned after just one season.
Fast forward to 1978, and a young South African engineer named Gordon Murray, now working for Brabham in Formula 1, decided to revive the concept. His creation, the Brabham BT46B, looked like a science experiment with a giant fan tucked under what looked like a trash can lid. It entered only one race — the Swedish Grand Prix — and won it. Dominantly.
The fan system provided downforce regardless of speed, while rival teams still depended on airflow to generate grip. As expected, the car was banned immediately after the win. But the message was clear: Murray’s ideas were too good to ignore.
McLaren F1: The Compromise
Years later, when Gordon Murray began designing the legendary McLaren F1, he tried to revisit the fan idea — but in a more subtle, road-legal way.
The McLaren F1 had two small fans integrated into the rear diffuser. Their purpose was to help create a low-pressure zone under the car, enhancing grip without relying on massive rear wings. It worked... sort of. The effect was mild — around a 5% increase in downforce and 2% drag reduction — not nearly enough for a car that could exceed 386 km/h.
Eventually, Murray conceded to installing a pop-up rear spoiler to stabilize the car at high speeds. Still, the seed was planted. If he ever built another car from scratch, he’d do it his way — and without compromise.
Enter the GMA T.50: A Ground-Effect Masterpiece
The GMA T.50 is Murray’s magnum opus, built under his own company, Gordon Murray Automotive, with no corporate constraints. It’s the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1 — but this time, he had full control.
At the heart of the car’s design is the 400mm rear-mounted fan, powered by a dedicated 48V electric motor spinning up to 7,000 rpm. It works in tandem with active diffusers and movable rear spoilers to control airflow in ways no other road car has done before.
The result? Unmatched aerodynamic performance without a single oversized wing or gimmick. Let’s break down how it all works.
The Six Aero Modes of the GMA T.50 Fan System
The fan system isn’t just spinning for show — it operates under six distinct modes that adjust depending on driving conditions.
Auto Mode (Default)
Passive mode using only natural airflow.
No active fan drive.
Ground-effect operates under standard load.
High Downforce
Driver-activated.
Diffuser valves open; fan spins moderately.
Spoilers deploy halfway.
Increases downforce by up to 50%.
Streamline Mode
Designed for straight-line speed and fuel efficiency.
Diffuser valves close; fan spins minimally.
Spoiler drops slightly to reduce drag.
Downforce is reduced; the car rises a few mm.
V-Max Boost
Ultimate speed mode.
48V electric motor fully powers the fan.
Delivers +40 hp of “air power”, assisting the already potent 650 hp V12.
Ideal for top-speed runs on closed roads or tracks.
Braking Mode
Activated automatically during hard deceleration.
Spoilers fully deploy as air brakes.
Fan aids in rear downforce for 10 meters shorter stopping distance from 240 km/h.
Test Mode
Used only when stationary.
Full activation of all aero systems for diagnostics or pure show-off value.
Why It Matters
In an era where hypercars are overloaded with digital trickery and artificial enhancements, the T.50 is something different. It’s mechanical, analog, and brutally effective — a driver's car through and through. No massive rear wings, no complex active suspensions, no hybrid assistance.
Just a naturally aspirated Cosworth V12, a six-speed manual gearbox, and a fan that does what no one else dared to revisit since the 1970s.
And yes — the whole thing works.
Gordon Murray didn’t just revive an old idea. He perfected it.
The GMA T.50’s fan system is more than just an engineering party trick — it’s the culmination of 50 years of experimentation, iteration, and persistence. While other hypercars chase records with brute force and weight, the T.50 achieves brilliance with finesse, elegance, and physics.
Only 100 units of the T.50 will ever be made, each priced at over £2.36 million — more than a Bugatti Chiron. But ask yourself: would you rather have a car made by a faceless corporation, or one handcrafted by a man who’s been chasing the same dream since the 1970s?
