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GRID DLC Car Focus: McLaren F1 GTR '95
2008-07-04 10:36:35
McLaren F1 GTR '95



The McLaren F1 was never intended to race. Throughout its gestation, the intention of chief engineer Gordon Murray was to create the ultimate sports car for the road. Racing-derived technology would be used, such as the carbon fibre construction, but it was always intended as a car for the road – with no consideration given to racing it.



However, during the period between the F1 being conceptualised and coming into production the racing landscape changed. Throughout the 1980s, sportscar and endurance racing had been based around the closed prototypes of Group C, (such as the Mazda 787b featured in GRID). In the early 90s, though, Group C effectively collapsed- the usual story of out-of-control budgets and dwindling interest. The cars had become, in the opinion of many, little more than F1 cars with roofs and wheel arches. Many people, fans and manufacturers, had called for endurance racing to return to its road-car roots, and install a GT formula as the premier class, and so, with a gap in the global schedule where Group C once was, the BPR Global GT championship was born.



By this time the F1 road car was in production and it didn’t take race teams very long to realise that a racing version of the F1 would be a very competitive prospect in Global GT Racing.



McLaren agreed, and the F1 GTR was born. Aesthetically, the seemed little changed, apart from the downforce-producing wing at the rear of the car. Internally, the cabin was stripped and a rollcage added, racing brakes were fitted, many cooling ducts were built into the car. One notable feature is that the race car had less overall power than the road versions, due to the restrictor demanded by the regulations. This shortfall was easily offset by the race car’s reduced weight. One final item of note is that the 1995 race cars used the standard road car’s gearbox.



On the track, the F1 GTR was an instant success, winning first time out at Jerez, and took the 1995 BPR championship. Le Mans was the one they were not expected to win- not part of any global championship, it was still home to several purpose-built sports-prototype entries, which dominated the grid after qualifying. After 24 hours of racing, the story was different- McLaren placing 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, the prototypes having fallen by the wayside.



In all, 28 F1 GTRs were built to varying specifications. Some have since been converted to a road-legal state. They are among the most desirable collectors’ cars in the world.