VIN: the Gulf Racing / Team Lark McLaren F1 GTR chassis 04R
History of chassis 04R
Chassis 04R was one of two 1995-spec. GTRs originally delivered to the Gulf-backed GTC Motorsport team (the other having been 02R).
It was purchased by gentleman driver, Lindsay Owen-Jones, who was Chairman and CEO of the L’Oreal cosmetics company.
Owen-Jones was co-driven throughout 1995 by Pierre-Henri Raphanel, but the pair were dogged by misfortune.
After the first three rounds of the BPR GT Championship, 04R headed to Jarama having posted two DNFs and a seventh at Paul Ricard.
Worse was to come.
During the Thursday test session at Jarama, Lindsay Owen-Jones put a wheel on the dirt and slammed into the tyre wall, flipping the car onto its roof.
Owen-Jones emerged unscathed, but 04R sustained enough damage for it to be sent back to McLaren for major repairs.
Owen-Jones then purchased a new GTR to complete the rest of the season (08R).
04R was completely rebuilt by McLaren and became the spare car for the semi-works assault on the 1996 Japanese GT Championship. For the effort, McLaren partnered with famed Japanese preparation expert, Kazumichi Goh. The operation was backed by the Philip Morris cigarette brand, Lark, and Team Lark McLaren was born.
The two-car team used a pair of new 1996-spec. GTRs (chassis 13R and 14R), but when 14R was damaged in a big crash during the penultimate round at Sugo, 04R was called upon to contest the season finale at Mine.
Wearing the famous Team Lark McLaren colours of pink and grey, 04R was driven by David Brabham and John Nielsen. It finished fourth overall which was enough to secure Brabham and Nielsen that year’s Japanese GT Championship.
With drastic measures imposed to stop the F1 GTR winning in 1997, Team Lark McLaren withdrew from the Japanese GT Championship at the end of 1996.
It remains the only year that a non-Japanese manufacturer has won the premier GT500 crown.
Notable History
Sold to Lindsay Owen-Jones
Gulf Racing / GTC Motorsport
Blue, silver & orange Gulf livery
26/02/1995 BPR Jerez 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) DNF (#3)
12/03/1995 BPR Paul Ricard 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) 7th oa, 7th GT1 class (#3)
26/03/1995 BPR Monza 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) DNF (#3)
09/04/1995 BPR Jarama 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) DNS (#3)
Rebuilt by McLaren to 1996-spec.
Team Lark McLaren
Pink and grey livery
27/10/1996 JGT Mine 250km (D. Brabham / J. Nielsen) 4th oa, 4th GT500 class (#61)
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
