VIN: the Gulf Racing McLaren F1 GTR chassis 15R
History of chassis 15R
Chassis 15R was the third F1 GTR ordered by L’Oreal Chairman and CEO, Lindsay Owen-Jones. The first two had been 1995-spec. examples (08R replaced 04R after it was crashed at Jarama).
The new car was once again run by Ray Bellm’s Gulf-backed GTC Motorsport operation. Owen-Jones and Bellm each received one of the latest 96-spec. GTRs to contest that season’s BPR GT Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Delays at the factory meant Owen-Jones was loaned his old car (08R) for the opening race of the year at Paul Ricard. Thereafter, he and co-driver, Pierre-Henri Raphanel, were ever present in 15R.
Season highlights included second place finishes at Jarama, Anderstorp and Nogaro plus thirds at the Nurburgring and Brands Hatch. The car also finished fifth overall at Le Mans (fourth in the GT1 class) where David Brabham joined the driver line up (as he did at Suzuka).
Like the GTC Motorsport sister car (chassis 12R), 15R raced in a Marlboro livery for its final outing of 1996 at Zhuhai.
After its competitive career was over, 15R later became part of the RofGo Collection of Gulf-liveried cars sourced for commodities trader, Roald Goethe, by Adrian Hamilton.
Notable History
Sold to Lindsay Owen-Jones
GTC Motorsport / Gulf Racing
Blue, orange and white Gulf livery
24/03/1996 BPR Monza 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) DNS (#6)
14/04/1996 BPR Jarama 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) 2nd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#6)
28/04/1996 IND Le Mans Pre-Qualifying (P.H. Raphanel) 12th oa, 3rd GT1 class (#34)
12/05/1996 BPR Silverstone 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) DNF (#6)
16/06/1996 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones / D. Brabham) 5th oa, 4th GT1 class (#34)
30/06/1996 BPR Nurburgring 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) 3rd oa, 3rd GT1 class (#6)
14/07/1996 BPR Anderstorp 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) 2nd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#6)
25/08/1996 BPR Suzuka 1000km (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones / D. Brabham) 6th oa, 6th GT1 class (#6)
08/09/1996 BPR Brands Hatch 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) 3rd oa, 3rd GT1 class (#6)
22/09/1996 BPR Spa 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) DNF (#6)
06/10/1996 BPR Nogaro 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / L. Owen-Jones) 2nd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#6)
White & red Marlboro livery
03/11/1996 BPR Zhuhai 4 Hours (P.H. Raphanel / D. Brabham) 4th oa, 4th GT1 class (#6)
Later sold by Adrian Hamilton to Roald Goethe for the RofGo collection of Gulf-liveried cars
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: McLaren - https://www.mclaren.com
