McLaren F1

Strip the McLaren F1 back to its specification sheet and the character is already there: 6064 cc BMW S70/2 V12, 461 kW. Mclaren built from 1992 to 1998, when airbags, anti-lock brakes and Japanese build quality became the world standard. Its designer of record is Gordon Murray / Peter Stevens (car designer) / Peter Stevens / Paul Rosche (engine designer) (BMW).

The background

The McLaren F1 is a sports car that was the first type approved road-going car manufactured by British Formula One team McLaren. It was the last road-legal, series-produced sportscar to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans race outright, as well as being recognised as the world's fastest 'production car' when launched. The original concept, by leading technical designer Gordon Murray, convinced then head of McLaren Ron Dennis, to support McLaren leaping into manufacturing road-going sportscars. Car designer Peter Stevens was hired to do the car's exterior and interior styling. To manufacture the F1, McLaren Cars (now McLaren Automotive) was set up; and BMW was contracted to develop and make BMW S70/2 V12 engines, specifically and exclusively limited for use in the F1.

The car had numerous proprietary designs and technologies. As one of the first sportscars with a fully carbon-fibre monocoque body and chassis structure, it is both lighter and more streamlined than many later competitors, despite the F1 having seats for three adults. An unconventional seating layout, with the driver's seat front and centre, and two passenger seats (on the driver's left and right), gives the driver improved visibility. Murray conceived the F1 as an exercise in creating 'the ultimate road-going sportscar', in the spirit of Bruce McLaren's original plans for the M6 GT. Production began in 1992 and ended in 1998; in all, 106 cars were manufactured, with some variations in the design. Although not originally designed as a racing car, modified racing versions of the car won several races, including the 1995

The engineering

Under the skin sits 6064 cc BMW S70/2 V12; it is rated at 461 kW. Kerb weight is 1140 kg dry. Power-to-weight lands near 404 horsepower per tonne, which is hypercar territory, where the limiting factor is the tyre, not the engine. The gearbox is a 6-speed manual. The layout matters: the engine sits behind the driver and ahead of the rear axle, which puts the mass in the middle of the car and is why mid-engined cars change direction the way they do. The wheelbase is 2718 mm. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.

Where it sits

Where it sits in Mclaren's history is not in doubt: the McLaren P1 (spiritual) / GMA T.50 (spiritual) followed it; it was built at Woking, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Dodge Viper, the Jaguar XJ220, the Bugatti EB110. Its Mclaren stablemates include the McLaren M15 and the McLaren M16.