McLaren F1 GTR

Lore & Background

Gordon Murray, creator of the McLaren F1, originally saw his creation as the ultimate road car, with no intention to take the car racing. However, soon after the launch of the McLaren F1, the BPR Global GT Series was created. Teams such as those run by Ray Bellm and Thomas Bscher, seeing the potential in the McLaren F1 road cars, Le Mans winner John Nielsen turned to Gordon Murray in an attempt to convince him to offer factory backing on racing versions for the BPR series. Finally, Murray relented and agreed to modify the F1 into a racing car. An unused F1 chassis which was meant to become #018 was taken by McLaren and modified as a developmental prototype. Bodywork modification saw the addition of various cooling ducts, most noticeably a large one in the center of the nose and two placed in the location of the storage lockers on the side of the car. A large adjustable fixed wing was added to the rear. The interior was stripped of all luxuries and given a full racing cage. Carbon brakes replaced the stock units. Because of the rules at the time, the BMW S70 V12 engine was required to use an air restrictor to limit power output to around 600 PS (592 hp; 441 kW). Features such as the central seating position, butterfly doors, and even the standard gearbox were retained. A total of nine chassis would be built for the 1995 season. At Le Mans 1995, the Kokusai Kaihatsu McLaren obtained victory and the highest practice top speed of the year, reaching 281 km/h on the Mulsanne Straight. Following the success of the 1995 season, McLaren set forth to upgrade the car. Among the modifications were an extension of the front and rear bodywork, including a larger splitter. The car's standard gearbox was modified to include a lighter magnesium housing and more robust mechanicals. These modifications allowed for the weight of the GTR to be lowered by 38 kg. Nine more new GTRs were built, while two older GTRs were also modified to the 1996-spec. For 1997, rules regarding the cars used in the premier GT1 class were altered. McLaren was forced to give the F1 extensive modifications. A much longer nose and tail, as well as a wider rear wing, were designed. The engine saw extensive modification, with a stroke reduction bringing the BMW S70 V12 to new heights. The 1997 'Long Tail' GTRs were the fastest variants in straight line speed, hitting around 335 km/h on the Mulsanne Straig

In Their Own Story

Midnight on the Circuit de la Sarthe. The roar of the BMW V8 echoes through the darkness as the silver silhouette cuts across the Mulsanne Straight. Rain slicks the tarmac, reflecting the glow of headlights from the grandstands below. Inside the cockpit, the driver feels every vibration through the carbon tub, the central seat offering a unique vantage point over the track ahead. There is no hybrid assist, no electronic safety net—just raw mechanical grip and the will to survive another hour.

Reader's Guide

Debuting at the 1995 BPR season opener at Jerez, three F1 GTRs took to the track (two for GTC Competition, one for David Price Racing's West Competition). The McLarens showed their speed from the very start, taking the first three qualifying spots. In the race, the McLaren F1 GTR of Ray Bellm and Maurizio Sandro Sala was able to take victory by a mere 16 seconds. For the second race, French squad BBA Competition added their new F1 GTR to the series while Bellm and Sala would again take victory. This would be followed by a victory for West Competition at Monza, then GTC winning again at the fourth round at Jarama. At the next race at the Nürburgring, McLaren would successfully take the first five positions for GTC, West Competition, and new F1 GTR owners Giroix Racing Team and Mach One Racing. Following another victory at Donington, the F1 had a slight dry spell when it first lost to a Porsche in Montléry, then to a Ferrari at Anderstorp. However the F1 GTR would return to form by winning the final four races of the season. West Competition would take the teams championship with a total of two victories, while GTC would take third with five victories, and Mach One Racing fourth with three victories. Going into 1996, McLaren debuted their upgraded cars. Existing teams such as GTC Competition and Giroix Racing Team bought newer 1996-spec cars, while new teams such as BBA Competition, West Competition, and Mach One Racing also participated.

Did You Know?

• The McLaren F1 GTR's BMW S70/2 V12 engine was required to use an air restrictor to limit power output to around 600 PS (592 hp; 441 kW), making the racing car less powerful than the road car, yet faster and more nimble.
• The 1997 'Long Tail' F1 GTRs were the fastest variants in straight line speed, reaching around 335 km/h on the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans.