After we speak about legends of motorsports, the McLaren F1 GTR will at all times discover its manner into the dialog. This particular chassis, the GTR #11R, has a historical past that was part of not solely McLaren’s motorsport program, however Mercedes-AMG’s as effectively.
Over the course of three years, solely 28 McLaren F1 GTRs had been produced. Inside that three-year interval, there have been three evolutions. The brief tail produced in 1995, which grew to become well-known after securing the 24 Hours of Le Mans total win. An up to date brief tail, which featured revised aerodynamics and lighter supplies and was produced in 1996.
Lastly, the lengthy tail which was produced in 1997 and featured an prolonged rear finish that offered further downforce. Every of the 28 chassis carries its personal significance, and all McLaren F1s are particular, however what makes the #11R stand out amongst the remainder? Properly, for that, we glance in the direction of AMG Mercedes and the LMGT1 race class.
A Secret Partnership… With out McLaren Figuring out
With Porsche, Ferrari, and McLaren all having a canine within the combat for the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mercedes AMG watched within the shadows, creating engines, aero, and components of their very own. Behind closed doorways the AMG crew was fast-tracking the event of their very own LMGT1 racer, the CLK GTR. With the continued success of the McLaren F1 GTR on monitor and their deadline rapidly approaching, Mercedes had the sensible concept to amass a retired F1 GTR in secret for their very own testing.
This retired automobile was none aside from chassis #11R, which had some success of its personal and was considered as a quick and constant chassis whereas in service. This made it the right check mattress for Mercedes. This acquisition and all of Mercedes’ testing had been performed in complete secrecy. Most of the occasions surrounding the event come right down to eyewitness testimonies all through the years as Mercedes AMG has by no means formally made any statements on the matter.
The Final Frankenstein Racer
The story allegedly goes one thing like this, Mercedes ripped the BMW-produced 6.1L V12 engine out and transplanted a modified Mercedes-AMG M120 V12 again into it. The legendary F1 physique was then ripped aside and reassembled with prototype aero items and physique panels that might later grow to be the CLK GTR. As soon as prepared, this Frankensteined race automobile discovered its first laps on monitor at Circuito del Jarama, the place it confirmed promising lap instances earlier than it shunted with Bernd Schneider behind the wheel, ending this system altogether.
With the engineering expertise (allegedly) gained from this program and numerous hours finding out the chassis, aero, and energy output, Mercedes would go on to create their CLK GTR, which not solely confirmed nice promise all through the season however took the general Drivers’ Championship with Bernd Schneider and the general Groups’ Championship for AMG Mercedes in 1997.
Return to McLaren and a New Life
After the crash, the #11R discovered its manner again to McLaren, the place it underwent its restoration. This chassis additionally noticed a really uncommon conversion, making it street authorized. Since this restoration, the #11R has discovered its manner into a non-public assortment in Europe, the place it sits and is proven with a full race livery, paying homage to the life it used to reside.
A key characteristic of this chassis will be seen proper on the entrance finish, the headlights. These “bubble” type headlights had been designed to present McLaren’s drivers added imaginative and prescient throughout the evening portion of races by having angled headlights in a number of instructions. Just a few chassis featured this growth because of it being rapidly outmoded by the extra well-known, extra aerodynamic flat headlights.
Full Circle at Villa d’Este
This 12 months at Villa d’Este, offered by BMW Traditional, we had been capable of admire and listen to this magnificence firsthand. The perfect half? Slightly below thirty years later, it discovered itself parked simply ft away from its CLK GTR counterpart.
