The McLaren F1 Owner's Club

[Sami Aaltonen]

Thank you very much this informations. Very very interesting.

Was it easy to get Lehto in your car those 3 races in 1996?

[Peloton25]

So are you still friends with Ron and do you expect him to turn up at the Owner's Gathering in his F1?

Thanks for the answers so far.

Which was your most satisfying victory in the F1 GTRs? Did you have a favorite track - one where you felt the car really shined? I think the track I'd like to experience the most in an F1 is Spa-Francorchamps.

Besides the much-talked-about transmission woes did the GTR have any other overt weaknesses? I assume some of them got worked out over time through continued development of the cars, so you could address that too if you'd like. Also, how much of an evolution in performance and speed was gained with each new version of the GTRs. I believe Gordon had mentioned the first GTRs were about 90% F1 and 10% racer, and that ratio changed to about 60%/40% with the 1996 models. I assume performance didn't jump by the same margin but obviously there was a lot of justification to part with the first year car and move on to GTR 12R which you won the BPR Championship with.

One last question for now - would you have, or do you happen to know anyone who might have possession of photos showing GTR #04R following it's crash during practice at Jarama in 1995 with LOJ at the wheel? I have checked with John Brooks and he doesn't have any in his archives. I've also never seen any published through any other source. It wouldn't be great to see, but it's an important piece of history for that car that doesn't seem to exist in the public domain.

Thanks!

>8^)
ER

[Davidoff41]

Hello,
That's absolutly great to read your words, and i'am sure that everyone here are really thanksfull of that.
I have a technical spec. question: In 1995, on Le Mans pré-test, 02R had a special roof air intake as we saw in the 1996 cars specification.
Why it was not used in Le Mans race and other BPR races in 1995?

Regards.

[cabrio92]

Absolutely amazing BPRchamp !

Many thanks to share your passion and story. It's highly interesting.

What do you think about Yannick Dalmas ? I met him but I have impression he doesn't speak a lot on McLaren... Maybe I know the reason but not sure.

Phil

[simmypam]

A very very sincere thank you. Some very special posts. Little treasures for enthusiasts.

[bprchamp]

God, so many questions. Here we go.
1. It was easy to get JJ for 1996 because I did the deal in 1995 Winter and his manager is my mate!!
2. I am still friends with Ron and see him pretty often ( gave him my opinions on the 12C the other day which he listened to)
3. The best win in the GTR was Jerez and Suzuka - great track. The worst race was Monza when Nielsen punted James off in 1996 and Brands when engine blew - £80k
4. Lindsay rolled 04R right at the beginning of free practice. no one watched it as no spectators at Jarama at free practice. It was put under a sheet immediately but was not that badly damaged. It is now owned by Mclaren and also raced in Lark colours.
5. I would say 1995 cars were 90% road, 10% race, 1996 cars were 70% road 30% race, and 1997 cars were 90% race and 10% road. The biggest jump in performance was 1996 - 1997, but I can't remember the figures but could look at my records.
6. The air intake extension on 02R in 1995 was removed as it exceeded the Le Mans regs on bodywork and was deemed a modification.

[Sami Aaltonen]

Originally Posted by bprchamp

God, so many questions. Here we go.
1. It was easy to get JJ for 1996 because I did the deal in 1995 Winter and his manager is my mate!!

Thank you very much this one! This opened up some new thoughts!
And also those other ones of course were very interesting to read. Many things cleared up, I think!

I think Keke Rosberg is the man which we are talking about here now?
Do you know was Keke behind JJ's Le Mans deal in 1995 to Lazante's team? He must have been?
The team builded up around 6 weeks before the race (the information which DA book has), so all must be happended very quickly.
If Keke was behind it; did McLaren contacted to Keke or was it other way?

I have tryed to figure this out many times and many sources; but still this is almoust the one and only big black spot JJ's GTR career so far, how he ended up to Lazante 1995 Le Mans, who did what and how.

About that Brands Hatch engine blow; it was I think super rare thing if that BMW engine blowed up.
I think BMW searched it very carefully why it broke, do you know what went wrong there?
Some times I have wondered what went wrong.

[cabrio92]

Many thanks again sir Ray Bellm.

I remember you in the vid when you owned #16R with the woman who drove GT40, it was so great.

On a side note, road legal GTR will be there at the anniversary ? Do you know #11R owner ? What about the GTR not street legal for the anniversary ? It's a shame they will not be at Le Mans Classic...

Philippe

[bprchamp]

There will be about 4 road legal GTR's. Non road legal not permitted. I know of the owner of 011R , but don't know him personally.

[cabrio92]

thanks ! It is very exciting since I don't remember a meeting including 4 GTR !

It would be interesting to contact #11R owner especially because he is a local for the event. I know he is a Autodrome customer.

Can I ask you if entries are closed or not ? Maybe I could try to convince french F1 owners who hide their cars

You cannot imagine at which point the idea to create such an event is excitinf for F1 communauty.

[bprchamp]

011R owner lives in the UK. Not in France.

[Davidoff41]

Is that possible to know which road legal GTR's will be there?
05R (Will u rebuild it as road legal? Same livery?) ; 06R, 10R, 12R, 13R, 14R, 16R ???

[hurstg01]

Originally Posted by Davidoff41

Is that possible to know which road legal GTR's will be there?
05R (Will u rebuild it as road legal? Same livery?) ; 06R, 10R, 12R, 13R, 14R, 16R ???

Have #07 and #08R been discounted already?

[Le Man]

Hi BPR Champ,

Many thanks for answering all the 95, 96 season questions so far, makes for very interesting reading. I have plenty of questions to ask about your GTR experiances. But first, may I ask a special request from your goodself. would you be so kind to share some pics of #046 when you owned it, as I do love the road car in Blue. it has allways puzzled me that someone should change the car to default silver

Great to hear that 05R is in good hands

Very kind regards,

Martin.

[bprchamp]

046 is in silver now and I have no pics of when I had it - sorry.