VIN: the BMW Motorsport / Team Bigazzi McLaren F1 GTR chassis 17R
History of chassis 17R
BMW had famously supplied McLaren with engines for the F1 supercar and, in 1996, the German firm decided to enter two GTRs for the Le Mans 24 Hour race.
Although owned by BMW, the cars were campaigned in a works capacity by Team Bigazzi. Bigazzi were the Italian outfit that handled BMW’s German Super Touring programme.
McLaren sold a trio of GTRs to BMW: chassis 16R, 17R and 18R - the last three of nine 1996-spec. examples constructed.
16R and 17R would be the race cars with 18R initially kept in reserve.
The attack on Le Mans began with Pre-Qualifying in April where 17R ran in Fina Union Flag / La Tricolore livery (depicted above).
This was followed by a preparatory outing at the Silverstone 4 Hour BPR GT Championship race in May. By this time, 17R’s bodywork had been switched to its Le Mans 24 Hours Stars and Stripes configuration.
Because of its fast, flat nature and traditional spring time slot, Silverstone had long been considered an ideal proving ground for teams heading to la Sarthe.
Steve Soper and Jacques Laffite drove 17R at Pre-Qualifying where they went 13th quickest overall and fourth fastest in the GT1 class. Soper was then joined by Nelson Piquet for the Silverstone 4 Hours; 17R started from pole and eventually finished fourth.
At the Le Mans 24 Hours, BMW split their drivers into Anglo-French and American line ups. 17R was the American machine as reflected by the Stars and Stripes across each rear flank. Driven by Nelson Piquet, Johnny Cecotto and Danny Sullivan, 17R eventually finished eighth overall and sixth in the GT1 class.
Thereafter withdrawn from competitive action, the car was retained by BMW North America.
Notable History
Sold to BMW Motorsport
Team Bigazzi SRL
White & blue Fina ‘Union Jack / La Tricolore’ livery
28/04/1996 IND Le Mans Pre-Qualifying (S. Soper / J. Laffite) 13th oa, 4th GT1 class (#39)
White & blue Fina ‘Stars & Stripes’ livery
12/05/1996 BPR Silverstone 4 Hours (S. Soper / N. Piquet) 4th oa, 4th GT1 class (#24)
16/06/1996 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (J. Cecotto / N. Piquet / D. Sullivan) 8th oa, 6th GT1 class (#39)
Retained by BMW North America
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: BMW - https://www.bmw.com
