The ex-Gulf Team Davidoff
1997 McLaren F1 GTR Long Tail

The F1 GTR 025R

F1 GTR Long Tail chassis ‘025R’ was completed on 9th February 1997. After a shake-down by John Nielsen on 13th March 1997 it was delivered to British team GTC Competition the following day, one of a three-car entry for a full season. It was raced that year mainly by joint team owner Ray Bellm, usually paired with top professionals Andrew Gilbert-Scott (GB), Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F), Jean-Marc Gounon (F) or Anders Olofsson (S).

That year, Masanori Sekiya of Japan, one of the victors at Le Mans in 1995, shared the car at the French 24-hour classic.

GTC’s F1 GTRs were finished in the classic Gulf colours of light blue and orange, and it’s worth noting that the previous year’s dark metallic blue was not carried over as the particles in the paint made it too heavy… Swiss luxury tobacco goods manufacturer Davidoff was joint title sponsor.

This car was raced in the following rounds of the Championship:

• 4 Hours Hockenheim: Did not finish (DNF), Bellm/Gilbert-Scott
• 4 Hours Silverstone: Fourth overall, Gilbert-Scott/ Raphanel/Bellm
• 3 Hours Helsinki: Fourth overall, Gilbert-Scott/ Raphanel/Gounon
• 4 Hours Nürburgring: DNF, Gilbert-Scott/Olofsson
• Le Mans 24 Hours: DNF, Bellm/Gilbert-Scott/Sekiya

Following a water leak that led to an overheating engine and ensuing fire damage at Le Mans, over 1997-1998 ‘025R’ was returned to the factory for a comprehensive rebuild. The engine was rebuilt by BMW Motorsport to ‘as-new’, the transmission overhauled with new bevels and the car prepared for “a race event of 4 hours’ practice, 4 hours racing”. Once reassembled, the car was painted in white primer ready for a new purchaser.

This, in 1999, was the Japanese Hitotsuyama Racing Team, who raced the car extensively in the Japan Grand Touring Championship (JGTC) until 2005, where in later years it carried distinctive yellow and orange ‘Yellow Corn’ motorcycle clothing livery. The car competed at most of the JGTC rounds, often battling head-to-head with rival Team Take One’s own F1 GTR.

It is quite possible that the Hitotsuyama team’s final race at Fuji in 2005 was the last appearance by a McLaren F1 GTR in international competition.

Following its tenure in Japan, ‘025R’ was subsequently sold to an international collector on whose behalf we offer it today. The car has been inspected this year to ‘Full McLaren Standards’ by McLaren Heritage – the report is available.

Presented in white with its original black interior, the condition of the car is consistent with that of a fully functioning, well-raced track weapon. Unsurprisingly, the local Japanese racing team had made subtle upgrades (mainly suspension tweaks) along the way both to maintain its competitive edge and to tailor it to local rules and circuit conditions. The car is complete and was fired up during the brief engine test.

The experts at McLaren sum it up when they describe ‘025R’ as: “the longest serving ‘Long Tail’ F1 racecar and [that] has obviously lived a varied life.”

With values of F1s as healthy as ever, and the resources of McLaren Heritage at his or her disposal, ‘025R’s new owner has the option of a full restoration back to original race specification including its iconic 1997 Gulf Davidoff livery, or conversion to road specification. The likely investment in either option has been costed by McLaren this year and is available from us on request. A hard decision, but an enjoyable one…

Price:
Year: 1997
HP:
KMH: The ex-Gulf Team Davidoff
1997 McLaren F1 GTR Long Tail

The F1 GTR 025R

F1 GTR Long Tail chassis ‘025R’ was completed on 9th February 1997. After a shake-down by John Nielsen on 13th March 1997 it was delivered to British team GTC Competition the following day, one of a three-car entry for a full season. It was raced that year mainly by joint team owner Ray Bellm, usually paired with top professionals Andrew Gilbert-Scott (GB), Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F), Jean-Marc Gounon (F) or Anders Olofsson (S).

That year, Masanori Sekiya of Japan, one of the victors at Le Mans in 1995, shared the car at the French 24-hour classic.

GTC’s F1 GTRs were finished in the classic Gulf colours of light blue and orange, and it’s worth noting that the previous year’s dark metallic blue was not carried over as the particles in the paint made it too heavy… Swiss luxury tobacco goods manufacturer Davidoff was joint title sponsor.

This car was raced in the following rounds of the Championship:

• 4 Hours Hockenheim: Did not finish (DNF), Bellm/Gilbert-Scott
• 4 Hours Silverstone: Fourth overall, Gilbert-Scott/ Raphanel/Bellm
• 3 Hours Helsinki: Fourth overall, Gilbert-Scott/ Raphanel/Gounon
• 4 Hours Nürburgring: DNF, Gilbert-Scott/Olofsson
• Le Mans 24 Hours: DNF, Bellm/Gilbert-Scott/Sekiya

Following a water leak that led to an overheating engine and ensuing fire damage at Le Mans, over 1997-1998 ‘025R’ was returned to the factory for a comprehensive rebuild. The engine was rebuilt by BMW Motorsport to ‘as-new’, the transmission overhauled with new bevels and the car prepared for “a race event of 4 hours’ practice, 4 hours racing”. Once reassembled, the car was painted in white primer ready for a new purchaser.

This, in 1999, was the Japanese Hitotsuyama Racing Team, who raced the car extensively in the Japan Grand Touring Championship (JGTC) until 2005, where in later years it carried distinctive yellow and orange ‘Yellow Corn’ motorcycle clothing livery. The car competed at most of the JGTC rounds, often battling head-to-head with rival Team Take One’s own F1 GTR.

It is quite possible that the Hitotsuyama team’s final race at Fuji in 2005 was the last appearance by a McLaren F1 GTR in international competition.

Following its tenure in Japan, ‘025R’ was subsequently sold to an international collector on whose behalf we offer it today. The car has been inspected this year to ‘Full McLaren Standards’ by McLaren Heritage – the report is available.

Presented in white with its original black interior, the condition of the car is consistent with that of a fully functioning, well-raced track weapon. Unsurprisingly, the local Japanese racing team had made subtle upgrades (mainly suspension tweaks) along the way both to maintain its competitive edge and to tailor it to local rules and circuit conditions. The car is complete and was fired up during the brief engine test.

The experts at McLaren sum it up when they describe ‘025R’ as: “the longest serving ‘Long Tail’ F1 racecar and [that] has obviously lived a varied life.”

With values of F1s as healthy as ever, and the resources of McLaren Heritage at his or her disposal, ‘025R’s new owner has the option of a full restoration back to original race specification including its iconic 1997 Gulf Davidoff livery, or conversion to road specification. The likely investment in either option has been costed by McLaren this year and is available from us on request. A hard decision, but an enjoyable one…