One to Buy: the West Competition BPR GT Championship-winning 1995 McLaren F1 GTR '95 (SOLD)
Although conceived purely for road use, the McLaren F1’s groundbreaking specification meant that, once converted into a top flight GT1 racing car, it had the measure of every other machine on the grid.
In its original short tailed trim between 1995 and ‘96, the F1 GTR won all but two of the BPR GT Championship races that preceded the arrival of the purpose-built Porsche 911 GT1, taking the championship on both occasions along with a famous victory first time out at at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1995 and the Japanese GT series in 1996.
18 of these short tailed F1 GTRs were built up (nine for each year) and they have since come to be regarded as the most significant GT racing cars of their era.
Currently on the market with Tom Hartley Jnr. in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, is a veteran of the 1995 and ‘96 BPR GT Championships, and a two-time Le Mans 24 Hours entrant: chassis 03R.
Ordered by existing F1 owner Thomas Bscher who was instrumental in convincing McLaren to create the GTR, 03R famously went on to propel Bscher and co-driver John Nielsen to championship honours in 1995.
The car, campaigned on Bscher’s behalf by Dave Price Racing, was subsequently raced throughout 1996.
By the end of its two seasons racing, 03R had collected four outright wins, 13 podium finishes and a fourth place overall (third in class) at Le Mans.
It was retained by Thomas Bscher until 2012, after which the new owner commissioned the renowned F1 experts at Lanzante to carry out an exacting restoration.
Reprinted below is Tom Hartley Jnr.’s description:
The most successful of all the McLaren F1 GTRs.
Delivered new in 1995 to Thomas Bscher’s ‘West’ sponsored racing team and winning the BPR Championship that same year, achieving nine podiums including two wins in the process. It was also the highest place F1 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year, before needing to pit for a clutch issue which subsequently caused it to retire from the race and allow #01R, the McLaren/Lanzante entered car to take the outright victory.
Its success continued in 1996 achieving another two wins and an additional podium in the Global GT Endurance Championship and was the highest placed F1 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a 4th place finish.
Following its retirement from racing, Bscher sold the car to a fellow German and in whose formidable collection the car has remained ever since.
Restored by Lanzante between 2012 – 2014 and at which time the car was stripped back to its bare tub and following the new owner’s wishes, restored to a level that no other GTR had been before. Since then it has only been driven on two F1 Tours plus an exhibition run at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
For more information visit the Tom Hartley Jnr. website at: https://www.tomhartleyjnr.com/
