McLAREN F1 GTR RACE CAR - TRACK RECORD
DEBUT VICTORY AT LE MANS
1995 was a vintage year at Le Mans. Not only was there an epic battle for the lead, but McLaren became the first motor manufacturer to win this gruelling event in the marque’s inaugural year.
As if this was not enough, the private F1 GTR owners claimed four of the top five places, and took first, third, fourth, fifth and thirteenth positions overall – the most in-depth triumph of any marque in the history of the event. This success is heightened by the fact that the first McLaren GTR only came off the production line six months earlier.
The McLaren F1 GTR, number 59, backed by the Tokyo Ueno Clinic, won the Grand Prix d’Endurance, but not just by survival of the fittest. The ’'95 race was a battle of pace and tactics involving the other GTR teams of Harrods, Gulf, Jacardi and BBA, plus the highly competitive rival World Sports Car Category.
Concerns over reliability were assuaged as five of the seven cars crossed the finish line. The Team Competition F1 GTR of Thomas Bscher/John Nielsen, and the Gulf-sponsored GTR of Lindsay Owen-Jones/Pierre-Henri Raphanel were unfortunate casualties of the devastating weather conditions, crashing-out during the night after both had led at different stages.
The Gulf GTR of Ray Bellm, Maurizio Sala and Mark Blundell was also a victim of the relentless rain. A lengthy pit stop to repair the McLaren dropped them to 35th, but they made up 31 places, to finish fourth overall.
The Harrods-backed McLaren, driven by Andy Wallace/Derek Bell/Justin Bell led for several hours before the Tokyo Ueno Clinic GTR went by in the final stages. Yannick Dalmas, Masanori Sekiya and JJ Lehto drove this GTR superbly, with Lehto posting lap times some 20 seconds faster than his rivals even during a night-time stint in pouring rain.
The event was a succession of ‘firsts’ for the McLaren F1 GTR. Not only was this the first time that any make of car had won on its debut at the Sarthe track in its first year of production, it was the first time that a Japanese driver, Masanori Sekiya, or a Finnish driver, J.J. Lehto, had won at Le Mans.
It was also the first time that a centre-drive car had entered and it was a first for the BMW M engine which powered the F1 GTR.
McLAREN F1 TRACK RECORD
The victory at Le Mans was just the beginning of an illustrious racing career for the McLaren F1, winning numerous global GT races and championships. Click here to see a full list of McLaren F1 GTR race results.
