VIN: the works / Lanzante Motorsport McLaren F1 GTR chassis 01R
History of chassis 01R
Chassis 01R was the first of nine 1995-spec. F1 GTRs. It initially served as McLaren’s development mule.
Originally painted two-tone silver and orange, 01R first appeared for a two lap shakedown at the Longcross track in Chobham on Tuesday 10th of January.
Testing proper then began at Silverstone on Friday 13th before McLaren headed out to Barcelona over January 24th and 25th. The first customer deliveries started two weeks later.
In April 1995, McLaren were approached by Japanese businessman, Motokazu Sayama, who wanted his medical supplies company, Ueno Clinic, to be the title sponsor of a GTR at Le Mans.
With no advertising space left on any of the other GTRs, McLaren decided to use chassis 01R. They arranged for a small contingent of factory personnel to run the car at la Sarthe in conjunction with Lanzante Motorsport.
01R would appear at Le Mans under the Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing banner.
Sayama would be allowed to buy the car after the race unless it won, in which case it would remain with McLaren.
First though, 01R had to make it through Le Mans Pre-Qualifying, which took place over the weekend of April 29th and 30th.
Still in its original silver and orange colour scheme, 01R was driven by Yannick Dalmas and Pierre-Henri Raphanel. It set the tenth fastest time overall and went fifth quickest in the GT1 group behind the two class-leading Ferrari F40s and another pair of F1 GTRs.
In the weeks building up to Le Mans, chassis 01R completed a 24 hour test at Magny Cours. It was then completely rebuilt and re-emerged in a stunning new black and grey livery.
Motokazu Sayama requested Japanese driver, Masanori Sekiya, be in the line up for Le Mans. Sekiya was joined by Dalmas and JJ Lehto.
Qualifying saw 01R go quicker than any of the other GTRs: the black and grey McLaren would start ninth overall directly behind a trio of fast but notoriously fragile Ferrari F40s.
Held over June 17th and 18th, the race began dry, but turned into one of the wettest on record.
Steady rain fell for 17 of the 24 hours and drastically reduced the speed advantage held by the Prototypes.
Good fortune and immaculate driving saw 01R steadily make its way up the field. With just under two hours to go, it took a lead it would not relinquish.
Lehto, Dalmas and Sekiya went on to win from the second place Courage C34 which managed to un-lap itself in the final stages. Other F1 GTRs were also third, fourth, fifth and 13th.
After such a historic victory, there was no possibility of 01R being sold to Motokazu Sayama. Instead, Sayama was supplied with a black and grey-liveried F1 road car (chassis 043) at a heavily discounted price.
Following its Le Mans win, 01R was displayed at the 1995 Goodwood Festival of Speed and then the Silverstone Historic Festival a few weeks later.
It has remained in the ownership of McLaren ever since.
Notable History
Silver & orange livery
Original F1 GTR prototype development mule
Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing / Lanzante Motorsport
30/04/1995 IND Le Mans Pre-Qualifying (Y. Dalmas / P.H. Raphanel) 10th oa, 5th GT1 class (#59)
Re-painted black & grey Ueno Clinic livery
18/06/1995 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (Y. Dalmas / M. Sekiya / J.J. Lehto) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#59)
Displayed at the 1995 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Displayed at the 1995 Silverstone Historic Festival
Retained by McLaren
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia & LAT (Motorsport Images) for McLaren - https://www.mclaren.com
