Red Bull RB17 To Become A Road Legal Monster As Lanzante Take The Reins

Alex Harrington | Jul 19, 2024

Red Bull

Lanzante, a company celebrated for converting exclusive track-only vehicles into street-legal machines, has announced its latest project at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed: transforming the Red Bull RB17 into a road-ready hypercar. The Red Bull RB17, originally conceived by Adrian Newey, is an exquisite example of engineering designed to surpass the performance of modern Formula 1 cars. 

The RB17 is a rarity in the automotive world, with only 50 units planned for production. Each car is powered by a roaring 4.5-liter V-10 engine developed by Cosworth, capable of reaching an impressive 15,000 rpm and delivering 1000 horsepower. An additional electric motor introduces an extra 200 horsepower, improving torque and providing crucial functionalities like, well, reverse. All these features position the RB17 as an apex predator, a marvel built for speed and precision far removed from the typical street car.

However, for the fortunate few who can claim ownership of this hypercar, the allure of driving it on public roads is irresistible. Responding to this demand, Lanzante revealed:

“Following on from a bumper Goodwood Festival of Speed, British automotive engineering specialist Lanzante has confirmed it will work on road legalisation of the newly announced Red Bull RB17.

“Early customers for the track-only model have engaged with Lanzante regarding the road conversion programme, and work will start immediately to develop the necessary upgrades to allow it to be driven on public roads.

“Lanzante will work closely with owners to develop a road legal version of the V10-powered RB17, ensuring the project stays true to the original design brief, allowing for optimised performance on track, but also useable on road.”

This initiative stands as another ambitious stride for Lanzante, wielded from their long history of converting formidable motorsport vehicles to street-legal status, including legendary models like the McLaren P1 GTR and the Pagani Zonda Revolucion.

The intricate conversion process includes adapting the extreme performance of the RB17 for everyday road use while keeping its track prowess undiluted. This delicate balancing act involves not only tweaking the car's extraordinary features but also navigating the labyrinth of legislative requirements for street-legal cars. The process is simplified in the U.K. due to the existing single vehicle type approval rules, a convenient overlap given the operational bases of Red Bull F1 and Lanzane in the country.

Owners who opt for the street-legal conversion face substantial costs on top of the RB17's base price of approximately 5 million British pounds ($6.5 million). The conversion expense is estimated to range between 250,000 and 500,000 British pounds ($325,000 to $650,000). For many, the cost will be a pittance for the privilege of driving such a bespoke engineering wonder on public roads.