VIN: the Gulf Racing McLaren F1 GTR chassis 12R
History of chassis 12R
After he narrowly missed out on winning the 1995 BPR GT Championship, Ray Bellm was back for 1996 with chassis 12R: a brand new F1 GTR built to the latest specification.
Bellm’s GTC Motorsport team retained backing from Gulf Oil and, once again, ran a second car (15R) for gentleman driver, Lindsay Owen-Jones.
Pharmaceuticals magnate Bellm replaced Maurizio Sandro Sala with James Weaver as his co-driver for 1996. Together they notched up four wins en route to becoming the 1996 BPR GT champions.
JJ Lehto was hired as the third driver for Le Mans, Suzuka and Zhuhai.
Both GTC cars contested the season finale in China wearing a one-off Marlboro livery.
In addition to wins at Paul Ricard, Jarama, Suzuka and Nogaro, chassis 12R was the moral victor at Spa. This was one of three events (the others being Brands Hatch and Zhuhai) where the BPR organisers controversially permitted Porsche’s 911 GT1 to race despite not a single road version having been produced.
Although it was ineligible for championship points, the 911 GT1 dramatically hastened the demise of what had been a wonderful series for privateer teams.
After the 1996 season concluded, Bellm had GTC Motorsport convert chassis 12R for road use. He famously drove it to the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1997.
12R was later sold to an American collector.
Notable History
Sold to Ray Bellm
Gulf Racing / GTC Motorsport
Blue, orange & white Gulf livery
03/03/1996 BPR Paul Ricard 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#2)
24/03/1996 BPR Monza 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver) DNF (#2)
14/04/1996 BPR Jarama 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#2)
28/04/1996 IND Le Mans Pre-Qualifying (J.J. Lehto) 6th oa, 1st GT1 class (#33)
12/05/1996 BPR Silverstone 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver) 3rd oa, 3rd GT1 class (#2)
16/06/1996 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (R. Bellm / J.J. Lehto / J. Weaver) 9th oa, 7th GT1 class (#33)
30/06/1996 BPR Nurburgring 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver) 2nd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#2)
14/07/1996 BPR Anderstorp 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver) 3rd oa, 3rd GT1 class (#2)
25/08/1996 BPR Suzuka 1000km (R. Bellm / J. Weaver / J.J. Lehto) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#2)
08/09/1996 BPR Brands Hatch 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver) DNF (#2)
22/09/1996 BPR Spa 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver) 2nd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#2)
06/10/1996 BPR Nogaro 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#2)
White & red Marlboro livery
03/11/1996 BPR Zhuhai 4 Hours (R. Bellm / J. Weaver / J.J. Lehto) 3rd oa, 3rd GT1 class (#2)
Blue, orange & white Gulf livery
Converted for road use by GTC Motorsport and registered N753 HRV
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: McLaren - https://www.mclaren.com
