VIN: the BMW Motorsport / Team Bigazzi McLaren F1 GTR chassis 16R
History of chassis 16R
As BMW Motorsport had supplied the engine that powered the all-conquering F1 GTR, they understandably wanted to capitalise on their association with McLaren.
For 1996, the German firm fielded two semi-works cars at the Le Mans 24 Hours and ordered a trio of the latest F1 GTRs. They received chassis 16R, 17R and 18R; the last three of nine 1996-spec. GTRs.
16R and 17R were earmarked for Le Mans while 18R was kept in reserve.
Team Bigazzi were selected to race the GTRs as the Italian firm already looked after BMW’s German Super Touring programme. The GTRs would receive backing from BMW’s long-term sponsor, Fina.
After Pre-Qualifying at La Sarthe (where it appeared in Fina Stars and Stripes livery, depicted above) Team Bigazzi undertook a preparatory outing at the Silverstone 4 Hours. By this time, 16R was in its Le Mans 24 Hour Union Flag / La Tricolore livery.
Johnny Cecotto pre-qualified the car for Le Mans whilst at Silverstone, Jacques Laffite and Marc Duez gave 16R a gentle shakedown and finished eleventh overall.
Laffite and Duez were joined at the 24 Hours by Steve Soper. 16R was designated the Anglo-French entry. 17R was the American entry to be driven by Johnny Cecotto, Nelson Piquet and Danny Sullivan with a corresponding Stars and Stripes colour scheme.
16R finished the 24 Hour race eleventh overall and tenth in the GT1 class, after which it was retired from competition duty (along with chassis 17R).
The spare (18R) later went on to do three end-of-season races in Brazil.
Unlike 17R and 18R (which were retained by BMW), 16R was sold after Le Mans.
At some point it was acquired by GTC Motorsport owner, Ray Bellm, who in 2003 put the car up for sale.
16R was purchased by Australian IBM executive, Tony Raftis, and headed to the southern hemisphere. 16R returned back to the UK a couple of years later as Raftis purchased an F1 road car (chassis 009).
By now painted Historic Orange, 16R joined the collection of Yorkshire businessman Chris Palmer who had previously owned an F1 road car himself (chassis 007). During Palmer’s time with the GTR, it appeared in a Fifth Gear segment against a Ferrari Enzo he also owned.
Since then, 16R has subsequently gone through the hands of a couple more owners.
Notable History
Sold to BMW Motorsport
Team Bigazzi SRL
White, blue & red Fina ‘Stars & Stripes’ livery
28/04/1996 IND Le Mans Pre-Qualifying (J. Cecotto) 19th oa, 7th GT1 class (#38)
White, blue & red Fina ‘Union Jack / La Tricolore’ livery
12/05/1996 BPR Silverstone 4 Hours (J. Laffite / M. Duez) 11th oa, 10th GT1 class (#25)
16/06/1996 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (S. Soper / M. Duez / J. Laffite) 11th oa, 9th GT1 class (#38)
Later sold to Ray Bellm
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: BMW - https://www.bmw.com
