1997 McLaren Other McLaren Models

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys Sealed - McLaren F1 GTR 27R event, 5 - 12 March 2026.
$18,000,000 - $21,000,000 USD

• One of only 28 F1 GTRs built and one of just 10 configured in 1997-specification, longtail form
• Delivered new to esteemed Ferrari Collector David Morrisons Parabolica Motorsports Team
• Victorious on its race debut in the 1997 British GT Championship at Silverstone; the first race win for a longtail-bodied F1 GTR
• Contested nine rounds of the 1997 FIA GT Championship, securing top six finishes at Silverstone, Nrburgring, and Spa-Francorchamps
• Driven by former McLaren Grand Prix driver Stefan Johansson, Gary Ayles, and Chris Goodwin
• Loaned to Team Lark McLaren for the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans
• Returned to the British GT Championship in 1999, contesting five races with AM Racing
• Subsequently restored and converted for road use by preeminent F1 specialists Lanzante Limited
• Acquired by the consigning owner in 2018, and benefitting from a comprehensive recent service by Lanzante Limited at a cost of over 53,000
• Accompanied by an extensive spares package and exhaustive history file, further details of which are available upon request
• Retaining its original numbers-matching, Type-S70/3 BMW V-12 engine
• UK registered and taxes paid in the UK, equally suited to road use or in a great variety of on track events, such as Le Mans Classic or the Goodwood Festival of Speed

THE GENESIS OF THE LONGTAIL GTR

As race seasons go, the McLaren F1 GTRs 1995 debut year certainly takes some beating: 13 races, 11 overall wins including the 24 Hours of Le Mans one second place and one retirement.

Mindful of the looming threat in 1996 from Porsches new homologation special 911 GT1, McLaren set about updating the GTR for its sophomore season. Although outwardly similar, the 1996-specification car benefitted from higher downforce bodywork, revised suspension geometry, and a lower centre of gravity; the latter facilitated by lowering its BMW V-12 engine by some 50mm. Additionally, the cars six-speed gearbox was redesigned with a magnesium rather than aluminium casing, thicker side walls, and strengthened internals.

Once again, McLaren proved hard to beat in 1996, winning seven of the eleven BPR races held although Porsche secured GT-class bragging rights at Le Mans and won all three BPR rounds which they contested. McLaren were left with much to ponder for 1997, not least the series transition to a fully-fledged FIA Championship, and the imminent arrival of Mercedes-Benzs controversial CLK GTR.

As had been the case numerous times previously in the GT racing arena, regulatory interpretation became critical and highly contentious. If Porsches 911 GT1 had previously left the door ajar to allegations of homologation abuse, then Mercedes-Benz had flung it wide open with their new charge. Indeed, in late 1996, Mercedes-AMG had procured a current-specification F1 GTR for research purposes, before proceeding to build their own car in conjunction with composite specialists Lola inside five months. Paddock tensions were further inflamed by their intention to build just one CLK GTR Stra enversion in 1997, as was apparently permitted by the newly drafted FIA (as opposed to BPR) regulations.

Suitably bemused by the actions of their then-current Formula 1 engine suppliers, McLaren redoubled their efforts in redesigning the F1 GTR for the upcoming season. Most noticeable was the new cars dramatic high downforce, longtail bodywork; its overall length having increased by almost 65 centimetres. A new X-trac six-speed sequential gearbox superseded the earlier H -pattern unit, while a revised marginally smaller capacity 6.0-litre BMW engine offered better throttle response and reliability. Additionally, the entire rear end was redesigned in the interests of weight-saving; the resulting car weighing just 915 kilograms an impressive 135 kilograms less than its 1995 counterpart.

CHASSIS NUMBER 27R THE 1997 SEASON

McLaren initially retained ownership of the prototype for development purposes, while 27R, the penultimate car constructed and the car offered here was originally purchased by London-based financier David Morrisons Parabolica Motorsport concern. As a keen Ferrari enthusiast, his collection had at one time or another included a 250 GTO, 330 LMB, and 250 GT SWB Competizione, so his new acquisition could hardly have been in more discerning hands. In fact, upon delivery, 27R became Morrisons third F1, joining as it did his F1 road car and his one-of-six F1 LM.

Although a capable driver himself, Morrison aimed to contest the FIA GT Championship with 27R, and wisely decided that such lofty ambitions were likely best achieved with two professional drivers. To this end, Parabolica recruited Gary Ayles and Chris Goodwin; the British pair having enjoyed strikingly similar and contemporaneous racing careers, initially in single-seaters, via Touring Cars and ultimately in International GT racing.

Duly finished in the striking colour scheme of yellow with a blue central stripe, and devoid of any commercial sponsorship, 27R made its and indeed the longtail GTRs competition debut in the first round of the British GT Championship at Silverstone, on 6 April 1997. Qualifying identified Goodwin and Ayles as the class of the field; their fastest lap some 4.5 seconds quicker than the second-placed Harrier LR9C of Win Percy and Charlie Cox. The McLaren pair continued their domination in the 50-minute race, lapping the entire field to take an emphatic debut win for the longtail GTR. Significantly, the result meant that the F1 GTR had now enjoyed debut victories in each of its three guises.

In early May, 27R would find itself somewhat unexpectedly in that most historic of Endurance Racing settings: Le Mans. Although Parabolica did not gain an entry for the upcoming 24-Hour race themselves, a deal was brokered by McLaren whereby Japanese GT team Team Lark leased the car for both the pre-qualifying weekend and the race itself. Duly re-liveried in the distinctive Rocket Pink and Obsidian Grey colours of the teams eponymous lead sponsor a Philip Morris-owned tobacco brand the car would be driven in pre-qualifying by Ayles, Akihiko Nakaya, Keiichi Tsuchiya, and Katsutomo Kaneishi. A bumper entry of 68 cars convened at La Sarthe, with 27R and its drivers finishing the day an encouraging 20th fastest.

Just a week later, the car returned to Parabolica for its first foray into the ultra-competitive FIA GT Championship; specifically, the 4 Hours of Silverstone. A tight turnaround post-Le Mans necessitated that the cars temporary pink-and-grey base colours were retained, although the Lark logos had been hastily removed and stylised Parabolica script added to its flanks instead. Qualifying saw the AMG-Mercedes CLK GTR of Schneider/Wurz set the pace, but Parabolica were delighted to have qualified seventh overall and within a second of the third- and fourth-placed Team BMW Motorsport-entered F1 GTRs of Kox/Ravaglia and Lehto/Soper respectively. Significantly, they had also outqualified two of the three Gulf Team Davidoff longtail GTRs, and all six Porsche 911 GT1s.

On race day, wildly fluctuating weather conditions enabled 27R to assume an unlikely starring role. Remarkably, Ayles took the lead in the latter stages in so doing becoming the only privateer GTR longtail ever to lead an FIA GT Championship race although a poorly timed red flag just after the cars final pitstop relegated Parabolica to an entirely unrepresentative sixth place in the final classification. Nevertheless, the team took heart from finishing on the same lap as the victorious Kox/Ravaglia works car after almost three and a half hours of racing.

Following its Silverstone heroics, 27R was returned to its full Lark livery and was duly prepared for Le Mans under the watchful eye of legendary ex-Team Lotus, ex-Hesketh Team Manager Dave Beaky Sims. Upon the teams arrival at the circuit, first qualifying highlighted a worrying lack of pace from Kaneishi-san, so the decision was taken to replace him for the race with Ayles. The Briton promptly repaid the teams faith with a stellar qualifying lap to secure tenth fastest time; a mark which left the Briton as second fastest McLaren bettered only by the BMW Motorsport car of Lehto/Soper/Piquet. The vagaries of Le Mans qualifying deemed that, bizarrely, Ayles time equated to 16th place on the grid, but nevertheless the team made their final race preparations in an optimistic mood.

Unsurprisingly, Ayles started the race and continued to circulate within the top dozen overall in the races early stages. However, as darkness fell Nakaya-san clipped a kerb on the inside of Tetre Rouge and the team decided to abandon the race from there on, its valiant Le Mans adventure at an end.

After its travails at Le Mans, 27R was promptly prepared and readied for the remainder of the FIA GT season. Duly returned to its original yellow and blue colours, Parabolicas next outing would be the Nrburgring 4 Hours in late June. There, Ayles and Goodwin drove a measured race to finish a fine sixth once again; the AMG-Mercedes CLK GTRs of Schneider/Ludwig and Nannini/Tiemann having finished a lap ahead of the third-placed Lehto/Soper McLaren. The next round of the Championship at Spa-Francorchamps was a case of dj vu for Parabolica, for Ayles and Goodwin finished the