When we talk about Legends of Motorsports, the McLaren F1 GTR will always find its way into the conversation. This specific chassis, the GTR #11R, has a story that was not only from McLaren’s motorsport program, but also from Mercedes-AMG from Mercedes-AMG.
Over the course of three years, only 28 McLaren F1 GTRs were produced. There were three developments within this three -year period. The short cock produced in 1995, which became famous after securing the 24 hours of Le Mans overall victory. An updated short cock that contained revised aerodynamics and lighter materials and was manufactured in 1996.
Most recently, the long cock, which was produced in 1997 and contained an extensive rear end, contained the additional downforce. Each of the 28 chassis has its own meaning, and all McLaren F1 are something special, but what makes the #11R take off from the others? To do this, we look at AMG Mercedes and the LMGT1 racing class.
A secret partnership … without knowing McLaren
With Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren, all of whom had a dog in the fight for the 24 hours of Le Mans from 1996, Mercedes AMG observed in the shade and developed engines, aero and its own parts. Behind closed doors, the AMG team followed the development of its own LMGT1 racing driver, the CLK GTR. With the continued success of the McLaren F1 GTR on the right path and her deadline, the brilliant idea quickly approached a retired F1 -GTR for her own tests in the secret.
This retired car was none other than chassis #11r, which had its own success and was seen as a quick and consistent chassis in service. This made it the perfect test bed for Mercedes. This takeover and all tests from Mercedes were carried out in the overall secret. Many of the events related to development are due to eyewitness statements over the years, since Mercedes AMG has never officially made any statements on this matter.
The ultimate Frankenstein racing driver
The story supposedly has about the same way, Mercedes has torn the BMW-produced 6.1l V12 engine and planted a modified Mercedes-AMG M120 V12 back into it. The legendary F1 body was then torn apart and put together with prototypes aero parts and body panels, which would later become the CLK GTR. After he was finished, this Franconian stone racing car found its first rounds on the route in Circuito del Jarama, where it showed promising lap times before it dragged Bernd Schneider behind the steering wheel and ended the program as a whole.
After the technical experience (supposedly) from this program and countless hours of the chassis that Aero and the performance edition had studied, Mercedes created her CLK GTR, which was not only promising throughout the season, but also took over the entire driver’s championship with Bernd Schneider and the overall teams championship for AMG Mercedes in 1997.
Run back to McLaren and a new life
After the crash, the #11R found its way back to McLaren, where it rested. This chassis also saw a very rare conversion and made it legal. Since this restoration, the #11R has found its way into a private collection in Europe, where it is with a complete racial paint and pays the homage to the life she used to live.
An important feature of this chassis is right at the front end, the headlights. These headlights in the “Bubble” style were designed in such a way that McLaren’s driver gives an additional vision during the night section of the races by gaining angles in several directions. Only a few chassis showed this development because it was quickly replaced by the more well -known, aerodynamic flat headlights.
All -round in the Villa d’Este
This year we were able to admire and hear this beauty first -hand in Villa d’Este, which was presented by BMW Classic. The best thing about it? Almost thirty years later, it was only a foot from his CLK GTR counter.
