Not Even the Stig Can Tame a 1K Horsepower TVR Cerbera Speed 12

Svelte 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12-powered TVR Cerbera Speed 12 proves that power doesn’t matter if you can’t control it.

Ben Collins was the Stig on the popular Top Gear UK show from 2003 through 2010. Collins was also an accomplished racing car driver having spent time competing in the British Formula 3 Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was also a stunt driver for many films including several films in the James Bond franchise. The point is that the man can drive. However, he recently met his match in the form of a modified TVR Cerbera Speed 12.

The car is powered by a 6.0L twin-turbo V12 from an Aston Martin and has been tuned to an even 1,000 horsepower. All that power goes to the rear wheels which needs to push just 2,900 pounds worth of car.

Traction in a car like that is already going to be at a premium. But on a cold, damp racetrack, the traction will be nearly nonexistent. That fact is on full display in a recent video posted to the Drivetribe YouTube channel. The video shows Collins trying to manhandle the car around Dunsfold Park. The goal at the start of the day was to see if the TVR can match the lap time of the Bugatti Veyron. By the end of the day, it was competing with the likes of Honda Civics and Saab 9-5 Aeros. The TVR was simply undriveable.

Slippery Start

Almost as soon as Collins gets out on the track the car begins to slip and slide around the track. He saws away at the wheel like a mad man to try to keep it under control, but it is an uphill battle. The car transitions quickly between understeer and oversteer.

That big, heavy engine is upfront, so there is not much weight pushing down on the rear wheels. Remember, this car has no ABS or traction control. It is just man and machine. Collins sums up the handling in one word.

Evil.

First Lap

After getting a feel for the car, Collins sets out to set his first timed lap. It is a challenge from the jump. The car spins its wheels off the line, and you can hear it spinning its wheels all around the track. Eventually it becomes too much for Collins.

He loses control and spins the TVR into the grass. The crew needs to push him out of the grass to get going again. Not a good sign for setting any lap records.

It Doesn’t Get Much Better

After getting unstuck, Collins again attempts to set a competitive lap time. But it is hopeless. At the end of the day his best time is a 1:37.9. That is half a second slower than a Honda S2000 on a soaking wet track.

The TVR tied the Saab 9-5 Aero. The TVR has roughly 700 more horsepower than the Saab. But this all just goes to show that you can have all the power in the world but if you can’t control it then it is simply wasted energy.

Join the 6SpeedOnline forums now!

Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.