To mark the start of deliveries of the 12C Spider in North America, McLaren Automotive has released a pointless, contrived, silly and utterly awesome new short film. Shot at the notoriously treacherous Loveland Pass in Colorado, the 12C Spider navigates the tricky, snow-covered route “racing” against professional snowboarder Chanelle Sladics.
The quotation marks around “racing” are even from the official McLaren press release, clearly indicating they even they didn’t expect anyone to fall for this, except maybe the whingers in the YouTube comments section. But then it is widely accepted that the stupidest forms of life are known to exist in the YouTube comments section.
Of particular interest though is the fact that the 12C Spider is being driven in the video by Rhys Millen. The Native New Zealander is the current overall record holder for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, 2005 Formula Drift champion and 2008 Drifting World Champion. Rhys has appeared in over 500 commercials spanning 20 years and films including several appearances within the Fast and the Furious franchise, Indiana Jones and is currently working on a new film project soon to be released.
“With a familiar back ground in Hill Climb competitions and a native New Zealander myself, on the eve of this 50 year celebration for McLaren it was an honour to have driven the 12C Spider up the twisty snowy mountain roads,” Millen said.
Professional snowboarder Chanelle Sladics co-stars in the video, taking the 12C Spider to task as she takes the most direct route across the snow covered landscape. Sladics is an 8 time competitor at the winter X-Games and has hosted snowboarding competitions on ESPN.
At 11,990 feet (3,655 m) above sea level, Loveland is the highest mountain pass in the world that stays open during the winter months.
Yes, the video IS about as realistic and convincing as your average Top Gear “race”, but the cinematography is stunning, Sladics is hot and Millen drifting a McLaren on snow is just awesome, so sit back and enjoy it!
