VIN: the Gulf Racing / Lanzante Motorsport McLaren F1 GTR chassis 02R
History of chassis 02R
Chassis 02R was the first customer F1 GTR. It was delivered to pharmaceuticals magnate, Ray Bellm, who co-owned the Gulf-backed GTC Motorsport operation with Michael Cane.
Bellm was co-driven throughout 1995 by Maurizio Sandro Sala. For the longer races at Le Mans and Suzuka, Mark Blundell and Masanori Sekiya were drafted in.
Sekiya had won the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours driving the famous Ueno Clinic-backed semi-works GTR. At Suzuka, chassis 02R ran in a similar black and grey livery with backing from BMW Japan. It was then returned to conventional blue, silver and orange Gulf colours for the remainder of 1995.
With victories at Jerez, Paul Ricard, Jarama, the Nurburgring and Suzuka, 02R was comfortably the most prolific winner of 1995. However, the BPR GT Championship points system was heavily stacked in favour of consistency.
To that end, Thomas Bscher and John Nielsen who drove the West Competition GTR run by Dave Price Racing ended up champions despite only winning twice.
For 1996, GTC Motorsport ordered two of the latest 1996-specification GTRs. 02R (along with its sister car, 08R) was returned to McLaren as part of the deal.
02R was sold to British-domiciled American, Jake Ulrich, who was Chairman and CEO of oil and gas company, Sterling Resources.
Ulrich wanted a car to race in the British GT Championship and had 02R prepared by the 1995 Le Mans-winning team, Lanzante Motorsport.
Co-driven by Ian Flux, the now blue and yellow 02R won at Donington and notched up a further four podium finishes. In its final outing of 1996, the car wore a blue and silver livery to reflect backing from Lloyd’s of London.
Lanzante later converted 02R for road use.
Notable History
Sold to Ray Bellm
Gulf Racing / GTC Motorsport
Blue, silver & orange Gulf livery
26/02/1995 BPR Jerez 4 Hours (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#1)
12/03/1995 BPR Paul Ricard 4 Hours (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#1)
26/03/1995 BPR Monza 4 Hours (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala) DNF (#1)
09/04/1995 BPR Jarama 4 Hours (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#1)
23/04/1995 BPR Nurburgring 4 Hours (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#1)
30/04/1995 IND Le Mans Pre-Qualifying (M. Blundell) 14th oa, 9th GT1 class (#24)
08/05/1995 BPR Donington 4 Hours (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala) 15th oa, 6th GT1 class (#1)
18/06/1995 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (R.Bellm / M. Sandro Sala / M. Blundell) 4th oa, 3rd GT1 class (#24)
02/07/1995 BPR Anderstorp 4 Hours (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala) 13th oa, 6th GT1 class (#1)
Black & grey Ueno Clinic livery
27/08/1995 BPR Suzuka 1000km (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala / M. Sekiya) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#1)
Blue, silver & orange Gulf livery
17/09/1995 BPR Silverstone 4 Hours (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala) 10th oa, 7th GT1 class (#1)
08/10/1995 BPR Nogaro 4 Hours (R. Bellm / M. Sandro Sala) 3rd oa, 3rd GT1 class (#1)
12/11/1995 BPR Zhuhai 3 Hours (B. Wollek / R. Bellm) DNF (#1)
Returned to McLaren in exchange for 1996-spec. GTR
Sold to Jake Ulrich, USA
Lanzante Motorsport
Blue & yellow livery
31/03/1996 GBR Silverstone (I. Flux / J. Ulrich) DNF (#3)
05/05/1996 GBR Donington (I. Flux / J. Ulrich) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#3)
26/05/1996 GBR Brands Hatch (I. Flux / J. Ulrich) 3rd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#3)
23/06/1996 GBR Donington (I. Flux / J. Ulrich) 2nd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#3)
28/07/1996 GBR Thruxton (I. Flux / J. Ulrich) 4th oa, 2nd GT1 class (#3)
01/09/1996 GBR Snetterton (I. Flux / J. Ulrich) 8th oa, 2nd GT1 class (#3)
28/09/1996 GBR Oulton Park (I. Flux / J. Ulrich) 3rd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#3)
Blue & silver Lloyd’s of London livery
12/10/1996 GBR Silverstone (I. Flux / J. Ulrich) 2nd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#3)
Converted for road use
UK registered M209 COR and later GTR 2R
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: McLaren - https://www.mclaren.com
