Hi I'm new here. Been nuts about the McLaren F1 GTR for years. Hopefully the information I can add is new to everyone
09R... Couple years ago "Le Man Series & Sportscar Racer" had an article about where Le Mans winning cars are now. It stated that 01R was still owned by McLaren Cars and that a replica was made for the Sultan of Brunei. I believe this to be the Ueno grey 09R. The colour name is reference to Ueno Clinic, sponsor of the 01R.
The following summer I found probable proof. "Autocar" had an article about the Sultans collection including photos. In the background and barely visible in one such photo, is what appears to be the Ueno Clinic car! It has to be 09R, it makes so much sense.
The West Adrenaline car... That seems to be mistaken for 09R is therefore probably 04R which appears to be a spare GTR retained by McLaren. It was crashed heavily in only its 3rd BPR race at Monza in '95, and reappeared over 12 months later, in the final '96 AJGT round at Mine as replacement for a damaged 14R.
Hitotsuyama car.. Well its not an "SP" or 29R. Its in actual fact 25R. How do I know? Well I e-mailed Hitotsuyama Racing and asked them!
25R was entered in 3 FIA GT rounds and Le Mans in '97 by Gulf Team Davidhoff. It featured strongly at Le Mans, before its race was ended by fire. The car never appeared again that season, and probably becoming the GTR'97 spare tub. Hitotsuyama aquired 025R in 1999 and raced it with moderate success in the AJGT.
So can anyone tell me which F1 GTR AMG aquired to develop the Mercedes CLK-GTR running gear?