Skip advert
Advertisement

The original McLaren F1 press release in full - Every detail of the incredible V12 supercar - McLaren today

As McLaren re-publishes the full, original 1992 press release for its F1 supercar, it's a perfect time to celebrate the F1, we think

THE F1 WILL CONFIRM MCLAREN CARS’ ENTIRELY NEW STANDARDS OF BUILD QUALITY AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE ROAD CARS

McLaren Cars was formed in 1989 to create a unique high performance road car reflecting the McLaren International World Championship Formula 1 racing team’s record-shattering standards. From the new project’s inception, Technical Director Gordon Murray and Commercial Director Creighton Brown set about recruiting a multi-talented team with wide motor industry experience.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Gordon Murray has been associated with cars which have won over 50 Grand Prix races and four World Championship titles, his exquisitely-integrated designs embodying such trend-setting innovations as pull- and push-rod suspensions, carbon brakes, and underbody aerodynamic skirts – plus such renowned lateral thinking as the Formula 1 ‘FanCar’ and lowering suspensions. He subsequently devised the ingenious refuelling-stop/tyre change tactic to achieve record race-winning average speeds in early ‘80s turbocharged Formula 1 racing.

But he had also cherished a lifelong ambition to create the ‘ultimate’ road car. Eager for a fresh challenge away from the Formula 1 circuits, he jumped at the opportunity offered by McLaren Cars to head a design team dedicated to do just that – to realise that dream, in conjunction with Peter Stevens – one of the leading figures in the outstanding ‘new wave’ of British automotive stylists.

The McLaren F1 now represents an entirely new beginning within the world of exclusive sports cars of exceptionally high performance, a vehicle whose design simply re-writes all existing standards by applying wide-ranging technical innovation and imaginative conceptual thinking.

McLaren Cars’ three-year prototype programme was launched in January 1990, in a purpose-built pre-production facility neighbouring McLaren International’s racing headquarters in Woking, Surrey.

When the first production F1 is completed late in 1993, it will confirm McLaren Cars’ new standards of build quality and technical innovation for ultra-high performance road cars.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 2025 review – a rare Italian jewel beyond compare
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale front
Reviews

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 2025 review – a rare Italian jewel beyond compare

What’s Alfa Romeo’s near-£2m hand-built supercar like to drive? We find out, on the Balocco test track
29 Apr 2025
The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever
Ferrari 296 Speciale – front
News

The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever

The 296 Speciale is the latest in Ferrari's line of mid-engined road racers, packing 868bhp and LaFerrari-beating pace on track
29 Apr 2025
Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2025 review – the ultimate Nürburgring toy
Porsche 911 GT3 RS Manthey front
Reviews

Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2025 review – the ultimate Nürburgring toy

Did the 992 GT3 RS need to be made more extreme? Posssibly not. We're glad Manthey Racing has done it, though.
28 Apr 2025
Revisiting the McLaren MP4-12C, the birth of McLaren Automotive – car pictures of the week
McLaren MP4-12C
Features

Revisiting the McLaren MP4-12C, the birth of McLaren Automotive – car pictures of the week

In issue 333 of evo, we revisit genesis for McLaren Automotive – the first production MP4-12C
27 Apr 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses
Ford Focus ST Mk3
Features

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses

We’d hoped the 2015 Focus ST would share a good dose of its little brother’s magic. Sadly, it didn’t
28 Apr 2025
The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever
Ferrari 296 Speciale – front
News

The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever

The 296 Speciale is the latest in Ferrari's line of mid-engined road racers, packing 868bhp and LaFerrari-beating pace on track
29 Apr 2025
Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar
GMA T.50 front
Reviews

Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar

The GMA T.50 is the car we thought would never come: Gordon Murray's sequel to the ultimate hypercar, the McLaren F1
26 Apr 2025