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McLaren Celebrates 30 Years of Carbon Fiber Developments

John Watson driving the MP4-12C at SilverstoneJohn Watson driivng the MP4-12C at SilverstoneJohn Watson driivng the MP4-12C at Silverstone
Carbon fiber has become an indispensable material in the automotive world and the first name that pops into our head when we mention this is McLaren. To see why, we’ll take a trip back to 1981, when, on March 5, McLaren Racing introduced the carbon monocoque to Formula 1 in the McLaren MP4/1. The solution was subsequently adopted by other teams and, within a few years, every other F1 team used it.

The introduction of a carbon fiber monocoque had an immediate effect for McLaren, with John Watson winning the 1981 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. McLaren has now celebrated this, as the company has invited the former F1 driver to Silverstone to drive the MP4-12C supercar. A contemporary example of carbon fiber use in the automotive industry, the MP4-12C features a one-piece, hollow carbon chassis structure called MonoCell.

The MP4/1, the first car in the world to use a carbon chassis was also displayed during the event. Watson was accompanied by former McLaren Technical Director John Barnard, McLaren Automotive Technical Director Dick Glover, and Claudio Santoni Function Group Manager for Body Structures at McLaren Automotive.

I’m very proud to have been a part of McLaren launching the first carbon fibre chassis in Formula 1. After that crash in Monza, I was back driving one of our Formula 1 test cars within four days at Donington. Despite the accident appearing horrific to those watching, I was clearly protected by a safety cell of the strength and rigidity the world of Formula 1 had never before seen. I’m sure that because of that innovative technology, I walked away unscathed,” Watson said.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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