Rare McLaren F1 GTR Up for Auction

It’s not only rare, but it is also chassis number #28R, the last 1997 F1 GTR that left McLaren’s factory. The Japanese car collector who has owned it until now, decided it’s time to put it up for auction, hoping to fetch about $5 million.

From the 100 units total, only 28 were F1 GTR ‘Long Tail’ race cars, specially built for private customers competing in the BPR Global GT Series (now called FIA GT) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, of which only ten were produced in 1997, as bornrich.org related.

The units produced in 1997 weigh about 2,000lb (910kg) and generate a conservative 600hp (447kW) from its de-stroked 6.0L BMW Motorsport V12 engine. This particular model features a Gulf paint scheme, a long rear wing section and several aerodynamic enhancements to get more grip over the rear wheels.

Three teams from both FIA GT and Le Mans received six 1997 GTRs. In the FIA GT Championship Team BMW Motorsport took second place. The F1 GTR reached 317 km/h on the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans 1997, where Gulf Team Davidoff won the GT Category and also finished second overall.

The McLaren race car belonged to the 'Gulf Team Davidoff' along with three other similar units. Team Davidoff raced in a number of events outside of the mainstream in 1997, appearing at the 6 Hours of Vallelunga and taking a 21 lap victory over the nearest competitor. Later, the F1 GTR finished second at the Le Mans Autumn Cup.

One of the drivers lucky enough to race with one of the four McLaren F1 GTRs was Andrew Gilbert-Scott, who joined the Gulf Davidoff Team in 1997, his last year as a professional racecar driver.