Beyond The Ultimate: The Definitive McLaren F1 LM Archive

[Dr.D]

Stunning images. The GTR looks way nicer. The MP4 although modern, just doesn't look anywhere as good and all I can hope for is how well the successor will be.

[cabrio92]

Stunning

Phil

[Sami Aaltonen]

Very nice images!
I would not need even a second which one I would take......

[SD F1]

Hey Peloton...Sorry its been quite a while.

I really can't believe that GM actually said to you and I (separately) that "they were all painted orange".

Talking w Joe about getting the New MP in 2012. Anyway, hope all is well.

Wayne

[Peloton25]

Wouter from UltimateCarPage has updated the page on the LM with photos he took on a visit to the MTC last year.

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3...ren-F1-LM.html

Enjoy!

>8^)
ER

[Peloton25]

Tripped over a very early shot of XP1 LM that was shared by Robin McInnes on the Pitpass forums.

<-- Click!

>8^)
ER

[LMMike]

Thanks for posting those Erik, especially the early one, I've never seen it before.

[HansGruber]

I'm curious about a few things:

1. Whats the 0-60 of this bad boy? I know it was tested at 3.9s 0-60 in the CAR Magazine article and that's the best they could get out of it, but other various sources list it at 2.9s 0-60. Do you guys think it is capable of this or does the LM just have too much trouble with wheel spin because of the extra power?

2. Whats the torque? Some sources list it at 520 lb.ft. while others list it at 538 lb.ft.

3. Are there any tests of how much faster this thing is than a standard F1 around a racetrack? The acceleration figures of the LM vs standard F1 in the CAR magazine article lead me to believe this would destroy a standard F1 on a typical racetrack. However a standard F1 would probably beat it on a higher speed track.

4. What was the MSRP? The CAR magazine article lists it somewhere in the region of GBP 800,000, but is there an exact figure?

5. This may sound trivial, but I've noticed the LM uses a thinner seat with larger side bolsters near the shoulders than the standard road car. Does anyone know the weight of this seat and the weight of the seat in the standard road car? I imagine the one in the LM is incredibly light considering it's paper thin.

6. Does the LM use a different exhaust system from the standard road car?

[Peloton25]

My answers in blue.

Originally Posted by HansGruber

I'm curious about a few things:

1. Whats the 0-60 of this bad boy? I know it was tested at 3.9s 0-60 in the CAR Magazine article and that's the best they could get out of it, but other various sources list it at 2.9s 0-60. Do you guys think it is capable of this or does the LM just have too much trouble with wheel spin because of the extra power?

The only timed testing I have ever seen of the LM was the CAR Magazine article. They claimed the surface they were using limited the car's traction and that the 3.9 could be improved, but its unclear by how much. Just based on power and weight it should be faster than the road car's 3.2 second time, but there are a lot of variables involved in acceleration runs.

2. Whats the torque? Some sources list it at 520 lb.ft. while others list it at 538 lb.ft.

"Driving Ambition" lists torque of the LM engine at 703 nM @ 4,500 RPM. Using a conversion calculator that equates to 518.5 lb-ft. I would trust that figure (or 520 if you like) as I have not seen the source of the 538 number.

3. Are there any tests of how much faster this thing is than a standard F1 around a racetrack? The acceleration figures of the LM vs standard F1 in the CAR magazine article lead me to believe this would destroy a standard F1 on a typical racetrack. However a standard F1 would probably beat it on a higher speed track.

Again - never seen any other timed tests for the LM than what CAR Magazine did. It would take a pretty high speed track for the F1 to be able to use its top speed advantage to outpace the LM.

4. What was the MSRP? The CAR magazine article lists it somewhere in the region of GBP 800,000, but is there an exact figure?

I recall the original figure for the LMs being quoted by Road&Track magazine as $1.25M when they were announced. Looking at historic exchange rates for 1996 the average was 0.6444 pounds to dollars so that equates to £805,500, or roughly the figure you have mentioned.

5. This may sound trivial, but I've noticed the LM uses a thinner seat with larger side bolsters near the shoulders than the standard road car. Does anyone know the weight of this seat and the weight of the seat in the standard road car? I imagine the one in the LM is incredibly light considering it's paper thin.

Can't help with this - maybe the user Le Man has this answer.

6. Does the LM use a different exhaust system from the standard road car?

Yes - a freer flowing exhaust was designed for the LMs which lacked the road car's catalytic convertors. Other than the prototype, the only LM I've ever seen with its engine cover open was LM3 which has the catalysts fitted, likely to certify it for road use in the USA.

>8^)
ER

[Sami Aaltonen]

And don't forget the wordl Record; 0-100mph-0, 11,5 seconds.
They had difficulties with the grip; and if I remember right, they used slicks.
This moment no time to check that from the article.

Anyway; LM is road legal GTR, I think it's the right word of the car. Even the interiour isn't same like GTR has; the technical things are same, also the aerodynamics front and back are actually quite much same than 95' GTR had.

[Le Man]

Originally Posted by HansGruber

I'm curious about a few things:

5. This may sound trivial, but I've noticed the LM uses a thinner seat with larger side bolsters near the shoulders than the standard road car. Does anyone know the weight of this seat and the weight of the seat in the standard road car? I imagine the one in the LM is incredibly light considering it's paper thin.

I can supply the weight of the GTR seat, very similar to the LM, but different trim spec. The road car seat would only be slightly heavier, using leather trim materials. The lower two thirds of the GTR/LM seat assy is the same as the road car.

[HansGruber]

Originally Posted by Le Man

I can supply the weight of the GTR seat, very similar to the LM, but different trim spec. The road car seat would only be slightly heavier, using leather trim materials. The lower two thirds of the GTR/LM seat assy is the same as the road car.

That would be very helpful, thank you.

Does anyone have the gear ratios of the F1 LM in comparison to the standard roadcar, as well as their final drive ratios?

Thanks,

[Peloton25]

I wasn't able to locate gear ratios for the LM but will keep looking. The Press Kit info I have only mentions these details:

Transmission
Transverse racing unit with high speed bevel gears and spur final drive.
All synchro constant mesh 6 speed.
Limited slip differential.
Air/oil radiator with pumped lubrication system with pumped dry sump lubrication.
Straight cut gears.
Le Mans specification gun driller drive shafts and tripod CV joint.

>8^)
ER

[HansGruber]

Thanks Peloton,

do you think the LM gear ratios would be similar to that of the 95' GTR?

[Peloton25]

They must be similar I would imagine, but even those weren't the same all the time as they would adjust the ratios for improving performance at the different racing circuits.

Gordon did say the ratios in the LM were shorter than that of the road car. Now that could be done simply by changing the Final Drive and affecting all the ratios equally, or he could have actually meant each gear was different. Hard to be sure without seeing the details.

>8^)
ER