Russian F1 test drive

I've got no clue on the chassis number, but there are some excellent pics here. I love the burnout pic.

http://www.testdrive.auto.ru/mclaren/f1/

Wow. Nice find. Is that really in Russia ?

P.S. I can't seem to get AltaVista's Babelfish translating website to translate the russian webpage. Anyone else having this problem ?

Hello,

thank you !

Apparently, plate is german "M 060275"

Ciao
Phil

Wow. Nice find. Is that really in Russia ?

P.S. I can't seem to get AltaVista's Babelfish translating website to translate the russian webpage. Anyone else having this problem ?

Babelfish wasn't working for me either, but I managed to use another translation utility. It's not a great translation, but it will do:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Demonic appearance! Majestic, on - британски haughty shape amazes, admires, even oppresses! Furious, aggressive expression of "person" with widely placed, разящими on the spot headlights, as if воспарившие above the world "wings" of the opened doors which have shot up up... McLaren appears at the spectator a grandiose superessence! No, and only so this superautomobile in the imagination sees each of millions his(its) admired admirers who have made the representation about it(him) on few accessible photos.

But, as well as other "thoroughbred" superpenalties, "alive" McLaren F1 - small, extremely low and even little bit "puny" "subject"! What impudent, stately and regal was appearance, laws of physics and technics(technical equipment) dictate for a superpenalty such "constitution". But tremendous up to depth oppress shape cannot deceive: McLaren actually improbable, with anything not comparable sample of technical idea. His(its) essence excites consciousness - extreme technological and dynamic opportunities were pawned in model by the whole galaxy of the present(true) geniuses!

... The end of 1988 In the Formula - 1 - unprecedented domination red - white болидов McLaren, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost - absolute leaders of the world championship, and ahead at these machines in colors Marlboro some more victorious seasons. The chief of invincible command(team) Рон Деннис and the main shareholder of holding McLaren sheikh Mansur Ojeh on a wave of epoch-making triumph decide to immortalize adequately the achievements - to construct best of the best in a history road superpenalties, such "terrestrial" interpretation invincible McLaren Formulas - 1 which becomes accessible only to the elite. So in 1989 in Уокинге in the neighbourhood with shops "formular" McLaren the division of tuning and small-scale models - McLaren Cars Ltd. which should guarantee also additional prospects of development of a brand was born in case sometime the state of affairs in Ф-1 will change. Great mission of creation " a superpenalty of XX century " has lain on shoulders of the most worthy. Гордон Марри, the technical genius, the engineer from the God is it(he) will create "монополизировавший" Formula - 1 McLaren.

But up to this ascention to Olympus Марри it was possible to count one of the greatest racing engineers of century. Since 70th years tens his(its) advanced technical innovations without which the design of any racing automobile today is inconceivable, have been introduced in Ф-1. And engineering study and design болидов Brabham works Марри which has brought a champion title to Nelson of the Pique in 1981 and 1983, admire and to this day. Rebellious character, aspiration to rethink axiomatic technical decisions and to present the vision of a problem almost always resulted Марри in unusual, sensational finds. But, as well as many creative natures, after the decision of a superproblem(supertask) it(he) lost stimulus, started to be depressed and simply did not want to work. So happened and in a heat of his(its) domination McLaren in Ф-1 at the end of 80. Марри has decided to leave(abandon) for ever autoraces and to leave on rest, that it(he) and has made. By the way, soon it has led to to time loss of superiority McLaren.. .. However wise Рон Деннис has literally captivated Марри the offer to head works on creation " absolute a superpenalty "! As, as well as for races Ф-1, road model McLaren should be created despite of expenses and carelessly on a retail price - the above last turned out, the better! Марри with eagerness has undertaken work. " It was the present(true) fairy tale, - the Englishman recollects today. - For any automobile engineer the main embodiment of his(its) knowledge all the same is uncompromising superpenalties - top of design idea. But, as the racing engineer, I has been compelled to overcome in itself all instincts that our automobile has turned out road, "civil", without echoes "fighting" болидов! "

Nevertheless the basic technological loans were done(made), certainly, of " the parallel industry " Formulas - 1. Certainly, road McLaren the monocook and has received the external panels completely executed from карбона, среднемоторную configuration, at last, a suspension bracket such as push-rod which we today name " the formular circuit ", - all these decisions have removed on superpenalties. For modern road superautomobiles about which we on a regular basis tell, all these "positions" are understood by themselves. But do not overlook, that this model was created right at the beginning 90! Then карбоновый the monocook named " space technologies ", and queen serial суперкаров that period - Ferrari F40, by the way, in general had a welded bearing(carrying) skeleton from... Steel pipes and a body from fibreglass!

Right at the beginning we already have appreciated majestic and inimitable shape of the machine. She(it) is obliged to it to English stylist Peter Stevens. Extremely the intelligent and gallant person, the professor and the teacher of Royal academy of arts, Stevens has a reputation for the master "монстровидного", superaggressive and even "hooligan" design. It it(he) has created image nowadays cult rally - penalty Subaru Impreza WRC and its(her) serial "hot" versions, and now Stevens - the founder "mad" суперкаров with mark MG later.

At last, the company of talents was added by one more genius... Rather delicate problem(task) was the choice of the engine for the machine. In fact one of guarantees of victories McLaren in Ф-1 the union with Honda, its(her) tremendous motors was. But serial, adapted to daily use and suitable to superpenalty V10 or V12 at Japanese was not. And artful British perfectly understood, that, despite of all victories in Ф-1, image Honda nevertheless was not optimum choice for the most prestigious a superpenalty of a planet. Марри has quickly found allies in Munich. At BMW was available tremendous on those times serial V12 from model 750, and for a basis his(its) block (with a corner of disorder 60 °) has been taken, and the command(team) of racing division BMW-Motorsport has engaged in creation of the motor under the direction of legendary двигателиста Пауля Роше. They with Марри understood each other from a half-word, in fact it Роше created those delightful турбированные "four" BMW with which Brabham Марри won the Formula - 1 in 80th years! In result engineers BMW have constructed for McLaren F1 one of the best units in the history - volume 6,1 л and capacity 627 h.p.! And absolutely all components of the engine, switching the head of the block, the power supply system and electronics, were completely unique and had no anything the general(common) with mass motors BMW. Englishmen have received reliable (and superprestigious!) the partner, thus hereby " a gift of heavens " for new model became unprecedented durability and "endurance" of the Bavarian engine - the rare for суперкаров a case!

" The moment of true " has come(stepped) for model on May, 28, 1992. To the machine which has embodied the best technologies of the Formula - 1, could not give more simple and logical name, than F1. And its(her) debut, naturally, should take place on a "formular" line, and, certainly, the most glorified! The presentation of the automobile has taken place before Grand prix of Monaco. Road McLaren has shaken not only the characteristics and unprecedented technologies on those times, but also... The price. McLaren F1 in initial, so to say, the "simple" version more 1 million dollars cost hardly! The manufacturer has declared plans of construction of 300 machines. On a planet the most dear(expensive) serial automobile, and this status of model nobody has appeared has eclipsed and to this day! The segment road суперкаров has replenished with the automobile not having analogues! Symbolical in his(its) great destiny have counted also continuation of that May day: hegemony McLaren in the Formula - 1 (without genius Marri!) Has ended, and total advantage have received Williams-Renault, but in it Grand prix success nevertheless has smiled to Ayrton Senna, and it(he) has won for McLaren the first victory over a season!

Sudden victory
And here has passed more than ten years. Nowadays F1 - a museum piece covered with glory of own racing triumphes (see врезку), "обросший" in one hundred legends, but not getting tired to admire admirers, and even today his(its) charisma forces to rise on the rack "quietly"! But such pose does not suit at all that action which should be made to us: to lead(carry out) the valiant and exhausting test for range of this alive legend of a world(global) automobile civilization! Getting on a driver's armchair, about a direct bearing it is necessary to forget, in fact irrepressible imagination Гордона Марри has presented model with unique configuration of interior. The seat of the pilot - is strict in the middle of a cockpit, on the appreciable eminence, two passenger armchairs are located symmetrically on each side, and is much lower, on the floor. Therefore to pride "equestrian" McLaren remains nothing how literally "to creep" on "workplace" and, helping itself hands "to fill" the bottom finitenesses in the tunnel allocated(removed) for them before reliably and densely "to get stuck" in a vice of a narrow racing armchair. The well-known huge doors are convenient passengers, them(him,it) to take seat on the places very simply and comfortably. Presence of satellites also very opportunely, that... To slam this "cap" above a cockpit, differently the pilot should stand up in the "raised" armchair...

First there was a name
In a sporting world mark McLaren became known in 1964. Well-known New Zealand racer Bruce Maklaren successfully acted in the Formula - 1 by machines of mark Cooper (the vice-world champion of 1960), in the beginning 60 it has located in England and instantly started to achieve significant successes as the founder of racing models under the name. His(its) sports - prototypes for transatlantic championships CanAm popular at that time appeared so successful, that in 1967-1970 with them anybody from venerable American and European manufacturers - competitors could not compete. In 1966. Bruce with partner Krisom Emonom behind rudder Ford Mark II has won the most important race of a planet - " 24 hours of Le Mans ". In the same year болиды marks McLaren have appeared on lines of the Formula - 1, and in 1968 the McLaren on the automobile of the mark has gained the first victory over the world championship - in Grand prix of Belgium.

At this time Bruce inspired with a successful sheaf " races - serial automobiles " in execution(performance) Ferrari and Porsche, decides to create itself road McLaren, and it should be the most dynamical, the most perfect small-scale superpenalties of that time. In 1969 on the basis of racing sports - prototype McLaren M8 of series CanAm engineers Робин Херд working on the McLaren and Гордон Коппак (subsequently loud names among designers of the Formula - 1) have developed road variant М6GT (in a picture). The automobile was equipped enormous 7-liter V8 with capacity about(near) 620 h.p. from Chevrolet. An excellent parity(ratio) the capacity / weight and oustanding aerodynamics guaranteed models the status of the most high-speed road automobile. Workshop Trojan was going to adjust small-scale release М6GT, an official emblem of mark McLaren became a board with the image of a bird киви - alive sight native for Bruce Maklarena Novoj Zelandii. Superpenalties promised to beat on all directions of a machine - idol of that time - Ford GT40.

All plans were destroyed Bruce Maklarena's with tragical destruction in the beginning of 1970. It(he) was broke on a line in English Гудвуде during tests of the sports - prototype. All projects road a superpenalty have been curtailed(turned). But the command(team) of Formula - 1 McLaren has continued the successful existence with new owners. The former mechanic of command(team) Lotus Рон Деннис could lead mark to to its(her) present grandiose success. To the middle 80 under wise management(manual) Денниса brand McLaren has grown up to scales of interethnic concern, and creation superpenalty McLaren F1 Гордоном Марри was "reincarnation" of ideas and Bruce Maklarena's ambitions. It is curious, that 25 years later superpenalties from Уокинга has received... The same 620 h.p., as road automobile M6GT in 1969!

Design Марри are continuous compromises. It(he) conducted merciless struggle for weight reduction of the machine. Everything, that only is possible, has been made from карбона - here 5500 big and small details from this углепластика, and there where карбон did not approach(suit), applied the titan. And - a victory! In result at the equipped weight of 1137 kg the model till now is considered the easiest суперкаром planets and has no competitors on specific capacity! At F1 there are no hydraulic boosters of a rudder and brakes, are not present here АБС, pillows of safety, and about противобуксовочной to system at all do not recollect. But in superpenalty McLaren there is a conditioner and an audiosystem, the small lateral window leaves - окошки supplied with the electric drive, leather armchairs, and on a floor of the interior trimmed thick "алькантарой", woolen carpets. English snobs in the repertoir: the extreme technics(technical equipment), rigid "economy" of weight, but comfort and роскошества (relative) are sacred!

But we shall not exaggerate a degree of importance of these excesses onboard the most powerful superautomobile. The thunderous peal started V12 causes a shiver of all cockpit, his(its) inhabitants feel all nuances of "ability to live" of the engine which is located directly at them behind a back. In this rumble the trained ear without effort will distinguish even sounds from приводных belts of the hinged equipment. The hand on карбоновом a knob of the lever of transmission, but for inclusion I of transfer is required very big effort. Coupling too very hard though for a superpenalty of it(him) it is possible to count quite pliable. Improbable тяговитость the motor does(makes) process трогания from a place (uneasy procedure on other uncompromising "monsters"!) Very easy. Slowly to reach to the necessary tracks of range, superfluous switchings are not necessary, at 50 km/h it is possible to transfer(translate) at once the lever to the maximum(supreme), VI transfer, and "adoring" her(it) atmospheric 6,1-liter V12, "not being untwisted" above 1500 rev/min, will appeasably move you to the necessary point. Yes, even creating this "extraterrestrial" superpenalties, British have remained are true to itself: here rather soft, quite adequately filtering roughnesses of the chassis! And here " the direct communication with an external world " is guaranteed - travel on gravel testifies, that all three passengers sit directly... On the chassis. The driver's seat fastens directly to the monocook, and passenger in general make a single whole with a bearing(carrying) design so the interior is filled with sonorous chirring hitting about the bottom камешков, and the seat feels this fraction literally.

... The three-kilometer straight line of range BMW leaving for horizon in Ашхайме arises before eyes, causing joyful excitation and at the same time alarm. In fact F1 - one of the fastest objects moving on four wheels on a planet! The right leg(foot) instinctively submits to a command(team) drilling a brain: full "gas"! Passing on sharp, with metal notes the roar accompanied with resonant vibrations, V12 immediately exhausts an arrow(a pointer) of a tachometer almost up to 6000 rev/min, but... Submitting to " a rough instinct " and getting under way with a place on I to transfer, you transform back axis McLaren into such infernal "metronome", задок violently throws to the right - to the left, and a "heavy" rudder (the amplifier is not present!) Least approaches to catch a mad back axis. The image in mirrors of a back kind in shares of seconds is dimmed with a white veil of a smoke from under "burning" trunks... It is Kindly, all over again we shall warm up these huge trunks, and dispersal we shall begin already with a course, since small speed. Again begins the concert "philarmonic society" behind a back, this time driving wheels quickly " find common language " with an asphalt cloth and instantly start this "charge" in the necessary direction. Work of the motor "взрывоподобна" and simply hypnotizes, the sight is concentrated on a tachometer, therefore have not time to react adequately at all to a lightning set of speed and to experience overloads at dispersal... The Pair - three of seconds on I to transfer, and an arrow(a pointer) of a small speedmeter has already had time to pass for a mark "100." " My God, - is carried by in a head, - we of 0-100 km/h have slipped this - really, for promised 3,2 with, even to be switched it is not necessary! " И.. At once all breaks! The mark 7000 rev/min is hardly crossed, the engine stumbles, droops, practically "disappears". The shuddering cockpit fills the loud, opposite sound reminding the dog bark... What?! The terminator of revolutions! Second on judgement of essence of an event. About, yes - I transfer "is monstrously short", almost on 40 % "is shorter", than at others суперкаров. And the motor is relative низкооборотный! Here also it turns out, that in order to prevent operation of the terminator (which if it is fair, all spoils and indefinitely extends dispersal) there is no alternative, except for as, not having had time(been in time) at all to take pleasure in a sound of the untwisted engine and intoxicating dispersal, to have time to be switched to II transfer. What disappointment! In fact the Italian superpenalties, let they and on any shares of second more slowly in spurt of 0-100 km/h, give these wonderful instants 8000 rev/min pulsing on a boundary высокооборотного the motor which cause ecstasy. Thus it is necessary to note, that process of switching of transfers on McLaren it is obvious not so fast and precise, as on Ferrari F50, and much less pleasant... That is, having offered some "вкусностью" dispersal, Марри has achieved efficiency. Not spending forces on emotions and "empty" high revolutions, F1 due to huge concentration of the twisting moment on "bottoms" and "supershort" I to transfer 100 km/h faster, упрямее, "more rectilinearly", than any "latin" competitor really reach(achieve). "Englishman" is more effective, but it(he) on - британски is cool even on a pique of the titanic efforts. Squealing, lighting, экзальтированная F50 really concedes McLaren more than 0,5 with at dispersal from a place up to "hundred", but "litres" of adrenaline in blood of the pilot with interest are compensated with loss in engine capacity of working volume and time! A unexpected conclusion: physically does not mean humanly better faster!

Compromises with air
But flying kilometers of a straight line do not allow "to go in cycles" this strange phenomenon of dynamics(changes) McLaren for a long time. Guessing instants before operation of this "disgusting" terminator, you "click" transfers one by one (on high revolutions the lever already completely not such "rested"), untwisting everyone before " almost a maximum ". Quickly you get used to not dump(reset) almost "gas" at switching, and even at all "to stick" the maximum(supreme) speeds, not wringing out coupling, and with delight you observe "rise" of an arrow(a pointer) of a speedmeter. F1 continues the prompt start: IV transfer is replaced about 260 km/h, V, already much "longer", forces convulsive "peals" of the engine to turn to frenzied, deafening cacophony of sounds and fills with horrifying vibrations all cockpit. Emotions are so strong, that distract from a tachometer, and брутальный "shooting" of the terminator again falls at the most exciting moment. On a speedmeter - " three hundreds with copecks ". Remaining up to passport "максималки" 70 km/h need "be "to extracted" on "long" VI transfer, and kilometers after figure " 300 " are given uneasily, painfully long, and the straight line in Ашхайме, appears, is too short - faster 340 km/h here to be dispersed will fail! Numerous record arrivals in the past have shown, that this serial F1 can develop (on a speedmeter) hardly more than 390 km/h, that really there correspond(meet) 375-380 km/h (gaugings were carried out(spent) откалиброванным by a radar).

It is typical, that this obvious superiority in the maximal speed above other superpenalties of the present was gave by the price... Stability on these highest speeds. Look, what "pure(clean)", streamline silhouette at the machine, without any rear wings and spoilers, plus in interests of everyday "household" operation huge for a superpenalty a road gleam - 130 mm. In result movement on a straight line for the speeds is higher than 250 km/h is not so easy walk for the prepared pilot, and the process demanding intensive руления. The words of one authoritative pilot - verifier told about this machine were involuntarily recollected: " When I quickly go on ideally equal straight line on McLaren, it seems to me, that it at all direct, and hundreds fine artful bends! " Also it is the truth! Not only marvellously малоинформативный the rudder and rather "majecticly" behaving forward axis force to taxi up desperately, but also the "freedom-loving" back axis constantly hints at loss of stability, and sharp "gas" even for the speeds causes appreciable roving. Tiny спойлерок, appearing in a back edge of a body after 180 km/h, "will make laugh" counter streams of air more likely, rather than will force them to press the machine to a road cloth! It in due course has recognized also itself Гордон Марри: not without reason all subsequent evolutions of model, and also all racing versions (see врезку) indefatigably "acquired" more and more mighty rear wings and spoilers. And in a result model F1 completely other body, at which clamping force in general has received in... 3,5 times are more, than at our test "base" copy! But speed of such updatings hardly exceeds 320 km/h because of the worse aerodynamics. Miracles it does not happen...

Проросшие roots
However many swore Гордон Марри that it(he) has created F1 extremely as road and even the automobile alien to races, character of the racing designer nevertheless was showed. Certainly, such tremendous superpenalties should cause in some enthusiasts of desire to prepare and expose it(him) on races of class GT. The manufacturer did not object to private(individual) initiatives as at crisis in selling machines the racing program promised though any means. But jealous Гордон Марри has immediately interfered - it(he) and only it(he) should create racing variant F1! The first version sports McLaren, received name F1 GTR, debuted in 1995. The automobile from the mechanical point of view differed from serial a little, but the body and aerodynamics have considerably been advanced for increase in stability at high speeds.

The machine was so higher concerning weak полулюбительской than "guards" of then championship GT-BPR, that McLaren, even controlled by laymans - millionaires, at all have not met a competition. Five F1 GTR it is simple "растерзала" the championship. But the main sensation has happened in Le Mans in the same 1995. Some private(individual) commands(teams) have exposed under the initiative of the machine from championship GT on well-known French "нон-stop". И.. McLaren wins legendary race! Other superpenalties from Уокинга borrow(occupy) 3, 4, 5 places. And the automobile - winner - black McLaren with starting N59 - was a private property of one Japanese businessman who has secured small sponsorship of the Japanese clinic of cosmetic medicine! In memory of that event at the end of 1995 the limited party(set) from five machines F1 LM (Le Mans), practically not distinguished from the racing version has been let out(has been released). All of them have been painted in "historical" color of mark McLaren - loved(liked,favourite) by Bruce orange "папайя".

In 1996 McLaren still dominated over championship GT-BPR, but any more with such superiority. Seeing tremendous achievements McLaren, and with it(him) and motors BMW, direct competitors have rushed in attack. Porsche and Mercedes have prepared extreme, nothing having the general(common) with serial models (as against initially road McLaren!) superautomobiles: 911 GT 1 and Mercedes CLK-GTR. They in a result also have superseded McLaren from the first positions in discipline. To tell the truth, in 1997 on direct support McLaren in races FIA-GT was solved BMW. Марри has created last, most radical version racing F1 GTR-GT1, named Long-Тail ("длиннохвостый"), advanced which body has been lengthened on the whole of 630 mm (!), That has provided at last due stability on high speeds. The machine has managed to borrow(occupy) 2 and 3 places in Le Mans 1997, and in championship FIA-GT due to reliability before last race supported leadership of command(team) BMW, having conceded in a result a title magnificent Mercedes. On it the epopee also has ended, and rather скандально, in fact by the that moment firm McLaren already вовсю acted in the Formula - 1 under banners Mercedes. Certainly, BMW suspected, that has lost for a title because of "подыгрывания" McLaren to the new partner. And soon brand McLaren has passed Mercedes, and, certainly, about promotion of a product with a name of the main competitor - BMW - in the name and speeches could not be.

But gallant McLaren F1 GTR-GT1 has still had time to surprise public when in 1998 the "written off"("copied") factory machine has been exposed for participation in races in Le Mans by a small private(individual) command(team). In a result she(it) has borrowed(occupied) 4 place in абсолюте in spite of the fact that that year differed the highest for a decade a competition and massed attack Porsche, Nissan, Toyota, Mercedes and, at last, itself BMW!

In general it is amusing paradox: grandiose superpenalties such as F1 and to it(him) similar with all racing technologies, "space" appearance and wild power quite often test problems with course stability on speeds over 250 km/h whereas completely "civil" sedans past(last) tuning Brabus, for example, can confidently and without seen efforts to rush in a mode of 300-320 km/h even under a rain, and on a straight line it is possible to release(let off) a rudder, and anything terrible will not take place! Thus the comfort in interior will be as in the present(true) limousine... The Noise level and vibrations in McLaren on speeds more than 250 km/h is very high, even if on such speed to proceed(pass) on V transfer and simply to support this mode at the "having a rest" motor (on a tachometer - 4500 rev/min). Any intensive influence on an accelerator leads to "зубодробительным" виброакустическим to influences which soon start to tire, thus loud "jingle" V12 BMW, unfortunately, cannot be compared with "raised" (both in sense of height of notes, and in sense of wakened feelings) crescendo V12 from Ferrari!

However F50, any of German tunings - sedans are not capable of such "feats", as McLaren F1 in "подхватах" on different transfers. Гордон Марри in general has made in-gear acceleration object of worship of judges суперкаров. On stable speed on any transfer from II up to VI the sunk accelerator causes immediate "explosion" of draft, and this hurricane shakes up to depth of soul. Judge: with 80 up to 120 km/h (the most evident mode for check "подхватов") F1 "выстреливает" for... 1,5 with (is faster, than you will have time to read these some words!) on II transfer, 2,3 with - on IV transfer and even all for 4 with - on the maximum(supreme), VI! And how about 130-160 km/h? The same one and a half seconds, but already on III transfer, and 3,8 with - on the maximum(supreme). And for "dessert" of 210-240 km/h - for 3 with on V to transfer. Really "omnipotent" draft and boundless elasticity!

On "you" it(he) will not pass never!
The ring track for tests of controllability in Ашхайме - narrow abrupt bends, short straight lines is combined and artful. Even on "hot" hatchback GTI here it would be uneasy. McLaren shows here all "intractability" and tremendous obstinacy. As well as the majority суперкаров from his(its) cohort, F1 does not love intensive pilotage in such conditions. On "habits" it(he) one of most "zealous" among all ever met to us. The slightest pressing a pedal of "gas" an output(exit) from a bend leads to to desperate failure of a back axis: to tell, that McLaren suffers superfluous поворачиваемостью, it would be too soft - it(he) at all does not want to come back to a normal trajectory! Notwithstanding what Марри has supplied the machine back самоблокирующимся with differential with record for sports - penalty a degree of blocking of 40 %, it only causes rare and дезориентирующие "splashes" insufficient поворачиваемости, but in any way "does not pacify" a back axis. " To tame " " a mad animal " a rudder very difficultly. On small speeds in abrupt turns the hard rudder without the amplifier frankly prevents lightning manipulations, but also, at McLaren not too sharp for a superpenalty steering management - from an emphasis against the stop the rudder does(makes) 2,6 revolutions. And "to level" the machine dump of "gas" in general it is ridiculous. Even on a straight line (!) Such receptions without problems withdraw F1 in deep drift, which completely not progressive, and, so to say, fatal: if sharply to not brake, a turn on 180°обеспечен! Yes, on fast lines (for example, in Le Mans) with infinite direct and flat long bends to the most powerful McLa-ren will not be equal. But on a ring with "slow" 90-градусными turns the having useless huge stock of power and "burning" superfluous поворачиваемость F1 will lose even to any sports hatchback. Certainly, from the party(side) this session of desperate fight of the pilot with machine with constant wild failures of a back axis and "walking" in searches of a trajectory передком, madly wailing V12 and by all means revolving wheels looks is more tremendous. McLaren it is furious, but efficiency of his(its) pilotage in such conditions is ridiculously small. It is necessary to add, that powerful brakes Brembo in absence АБС намертво are blocked even by incomplete pressing a pedal, and the automobile, throwing up clubs of a smoke, starts "to fidget" intensively to the right - to the left. And it in dry weather on good asphalt and what would be during a rain?! Probably, on a wet covering c F1 without special needs at all it is not necessary to risk, not without reason representatives BMW to which posesses the machine, beforehand have warned us, that in case of a rain about any tests of speech cannot be.

Hypertrophied "hatred" of chassis F1 to bends has surprised not only us. Many owners have suffered because of such habit of the machine. The most known incident has taken place with the main admirer and the patron of model - Берндтом Пишетсридером. In the summer of 1995, in the stay by the president of concern BMW, it(he) during time " flight экзерсисов " (with two passengers onboard!) has elementary lost the control over machine, and unguided McLaren from all to a move ran into a chipper. Thus the monocook (!) has broken up, and one of satellites has received serious traumas so to the president was any more up to ruined McLaren (in breakage!) - It was necessary to settle legal problems. To the English comedian Rouenu Atkinsonu known as Mr. Bin (though it(he) also causes in all associations with the driver antediluvial babies Mini, actually it is the serious collector суперкаров), it was possible on twirled about the axis in harmless turn F1 to fly directly in the machine gone towards! Fortunately, nobody has suffered, and the lady operating a passer легковушкой, was happy to a unexpected meeting with an idol. Some dangerous starts from a line, the truth, without serious consequences, one more owner F1 - the soloist of group Jamiroquai Dzhej Kej had also. Data on the "crippled" machines acted and from less well-known owners of model.

It is especially symptomatic, taking into account, that F1 appeared even less "mass", than his(its) founders conceived. 90 and, undoubtedly, strongly overestimated price than hundreds copies, including different updatings and only racing versions have not allowed Englishmen to let out(release) economic recession of the middle more. In Уокинге declare, that one hundred machines is exactly and has been made, though informed circles inform on a drain a minimum in ten copies F1, still remaining at the McLaren. So if someone from a layer of the Russian collectors formed nowadays суперкаров thirsts to catch F1, there is nothing easier: address directly on a factory, to you will by all means find the "zero" machine, without run...

Inconsistent the story, is not that so has turned out? We too, preparing(going) to the test, expected a meeting with total perfection, a "supernatural" sample. But have found out, that, for example, Ferrari F50 corresponds(meets) to a rank of "superpenalties" in mental sense much more, and by way of pure(clean) dynamics(changes) and acceleration any road automobile cannot be compared with improbable Dauer 962 Porsche. And we intentionally carry out(spend) parallels only with models - contemporaries F1. Present stars of segment Pagani Zonda C12S or Koenigsegg C8S is already completely other level of technics(technical equipment), controllability, comfort, and if want, " qualities of speed ", let it is formal on parameters of dispersal and "подхватам" McLaren still remains the champion.

However, anybody never any more will not take away at F1 his(its) legendary, unique status as while any road automobile in the world does not carry name McLaren! Perhaps, Гордон Марри the automobile has created advanced, outside of limits of reasonable perfection and rationality "superessence" on wheels, rather than simply. The consciousness of the racing engineer all the same has once again got the best above "ordinary", but, unfortunately, necessary even to superpenalties logic of the designer of road machines. Прелюбопытно will see new serial product Марри - promising superpenalties Mercedes SLR which is developed too by an Englishman, and will collect in Уокинге on Mac Laren Cars Ltd. On a new coil of history Mercedes as the new owner of brand McLaren, tries to use unrestrained talent Марри for creation of "miracle - automobile". But in this case the British genius is constrained strongly by army of the German engineers supervising and adjusting his(its) each step. We shall see result of this "fight" in the autumn of 2003.

But, perhaps, the main thing that the novelty will be all the same Mercedes, instead of McLaren. Model F1 with all its(her) strangenesses and feats, racing trophies and legends, for ever remain in memory of the automobile world not as the best, and as the greatest of superpenalties of XX century. For ever and ever!

Ivan Vesnin
Photo of the author

047

Who owns it?

Two things,
1: Rainy Day not good for testing?
2: Grass stains on right floor carpet
-Mike:aus:

no idea who owns it

047

How do you figure ? Is there something I'm missing in the article ?

There was a previous thread with photos of an identical car from a German magazine that identified the chassis number as #047. Search this forum for '047' and you will find a thread titled that. The photos are gone now, but that should refresh your memory I think. :cool:

>8^)
ER

I remember. Thanks.

Too bad those photos aren't high res. Those are gorgeous.

Anybody asked for high-res? :biggrin:

Just found these two. Unfortunately not the others (I remember the link mentioned in first thread, which is dead now). Were indeed nice pictures.

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9403/mclarenf1roadgrayapru11qs.th.jpg (http://img82.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mclarenf1roadgrayapru11qs.jpg) http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/7365/mclarenf1roadgrayapru27tw.th.jpg (http://img118.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mclarenf1roadgrayapru27tw.jpg)

/Bucciali

Thanks Bucciali.

Is it me or are those pictures a little distorted?

Anybody asked for high-res? :biggrin:

Awwwww yeah!!!

Sweet man - I always loved that launch photo with the car getting sideways. :bigthumb:

>8^)
ER

Glad you like 'm!

Malka, if by 'distorted' you mean 'squeezed'....(hmm, hard one in English). It seems like the first one has been de-stretched on the horizontal-level.

Thanks bucciali for the pics! For the second shot, can anybody just Photoshop that little logo out of the corner? I don't like advertisments in my desktop wallpaper :)

Malka, if by 'distorted' you mean 'squeezed'....(hmm, hard one in English). It seems like the first one has been de-stretched on the horizontal-level.

Yup, that's what I was talking about. ;)