#027 Gulf McLaren F1 GTR

by modelM43in liverieson Posted on

Published April 15, 2024 | Last update September 15, 2026 | 14 models online

The McLaren F1 GTR was designed by Gordon Murray as the ultimate street car. It also was the ideal car for the GT1 series were it competed against the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 911 GT2 and exotics such as the Venturi 600 LM. When GT1 ‘exploded’ and all kind of one-off prototypes appeared, McLaren built a longtail evolution version that was used until 2002. The Gulf sponsored cars were only active between 1995 and 1997.

1995

1995 BPR Global GT Series Nürburgring, McLaren F1 GTR
GTC Racing, sponsored by Gulf, entered two cars in the BPR Global GT Series. The #1 took 5 victories over the season, the main competition came from two other McLaren teams; West competition won twice and Mach One three times.
Gulf Racing GTC #1: Ray Bellm (GB) / Maurizio Sandro Sala (BR)
Results: Start-grid 7th / time 1:41.933 / race 1st – 133 laps

Gulf Racing GTC #16: Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F) / Lindsay Owen-Jones (GB)
Results: Start-grid 3rd/ time 1:41.110 / race 4th – 132 laps
McLaren F1 GTR shorttail – BPR GT1: Powered by 6.1 liter BMW S70/2 V12 60º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1010 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. McLaren #002R & #008R

  • MINICHAMPS MC530 154301 & MC530 154316 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appear in this collection

1995 BPR Suzuka 6h, McLaren F1 GTR
GTC Racing entered two cars in the BPR series in the color scheme of their sponsor Gulf. But for the race at Suzuka they changed it in this Ueno Clinic livery, the same with which Masanori Sekiya in his McLaren won the 24 hours at Le Mans two months earlier. The livery and driver bring luck; the team won the race!
Gulf Racing GTC #1: Ray Bellm (GB) / Maurizio Sandro-Sala (BR) / Masanori Sekiya (J)
Results: Start-grid 4th / time 2:06.143 / race 1st – 171 laps
McLaren F1 GTR shorttail – BPR GT1: Powered by 6.1 liter BMW S70/2 V12 60º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1010 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. McLaren #002R

  • IXO Modern Le Mans & GT cars GTM054 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

1995 Le Mans 24h, McLaren F1 GTR
The 1995 Le Mans was a wet one, very wet. The WSC prototypes should have been faster than the McLarens, they were at least in qualifying. But because of the rain, their speed advantage disappeared and the McLaren got their chance. The Kokusai Kaihatsu McLaren which started 9th won, other McLarens finished 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Gulf Racing GTC #24: Mark Blundell (GB) / Ray Bellm (GB) / Maurizio Sandro-Sala (BR)
Results: Start-grid 11th / time 3:58.470 / race 4th – 292 laps / 3rd GT1

Gulf Racing GTC #25: Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F) / Philippe Alliot (F) / Lindsay Owen-Jones (GB)
Results: Start-grid 14th / time 3:59.050 / race DNF accident – 77 laps
McLaren F1 GTR shorttail – GT1: Powered by 6.1 liter BMW S70/2 V12 60º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 1010 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. McLaren #002R & #008R

  • ALTAYA #24 (#24 diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 2 STARS | Estimated value: 2 STARS
  • MINICHAMPS MC530 154325 (#25 diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Both only appear in this collection

1996

1996 BPR Endurance Series Paul Ricard 4h, McLaren F1 GTR
The 4-hour race at Paul Ricard was the first of the BPR Series in 1996. It was held in the beginning of March and the new GTC Gulf McLaren wasn’t completely ready yet. It appeared in a white livery, in qualifying it didn’t drive much and in the race it retired with a broken suspension.
Gulf Racing GTC #6: Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F) / Lindsay Owen-Jones (GB)
Results: Start-grid 47th / time 2:11.936 / race DNF suspension – 31 laps
McLaren F1 GTR shorttail – BPR GT1: Powered by 6.1 liter BMW S70/2 V12 60º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 980 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. McLaren #015R

  • AB MODELS kit (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

1996 BPR Endurance Series Suzuka 1000km, McLaren F1 GTR
For the seventh race of the BPR Series at Suzuka, the Gulf GTC cars showed an extra sponsor: local company Ueno Clinic. Just as last year it brought them luck, because the #2 car won the race ahead of a Ferrari F40 and 4 more McLarens.
Gulf Racing GTC #2: J.J Lehto (FIN) / Ray Bellm (GB) / James Weaver (GB)
Results: Start-grid 1st / time 2:02.502 / race 1st – 171 laps

Gulf Racing GTC #6: David Brabham (AUS) / Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F) / Lindsay Owen-Jones (GB)
Results: Start-grid 2nd / time 2:02.957 / race 6th – 167 laps
McLaren F1 GTR shorttail – BPR GT1: Powered by 6.1 liter BMW S70/2 V12 60º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 980 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. McLaren #012R & #015R

  • IXO KBI010 & KBI011 “specially built for Kokusai Boeki Kaisha Ltd.” (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Only appear in this collection

1996 Le Mans 24h, McLaren F1 GTR
McLaren took a surprise win last year. In 1996 the competition stepped up; Porsche entered the 911 GT1, the Courage prototypes were again present and the Joest WSC-Porsche was fast and reliable. The GTC Gulf McLarens both finished in the top 10.
Gulf Racing GTC #33: J.J Lehto (FIN) / Ray Bellm (GB) / James Weaver (GB)
Results: Start-grid 8th / time 3:49.951 / race 9th – 323 laps / 7th GT1

Gulf Racing GTC #34: Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F) / David Brabham (AUS) / Lindsay Owen-Jones (GB)
Results: Start-grid 10th / time 3:51.29/ race 5th – 335 laps / 4th GT1
McLaren F1 GTR shorttail – GT1: Powered by 6.1 liter BMW S70/2 V12 60º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 980 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. McLaren #012R & #003R

  • MINICHAMPS MC530 164333 & MC530 164334 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appear in this collection

1997

1997 Le Mans 24h, McLaren F1 GTR longtail
The original McLaren F1 GTR was no match for the new purpose built GT1’s like the Porsche. The longtail version is much faster but gets beaten again by the WSC Porsche from Joest. The GTC Gulf McLarens had a rough time: The #39 car retired in the closing stages after it set on fire.
Gulf Racing GTC #39: Ray Bellm (GB) / Andrew Gilbert-Scott (GB) / Masanori Sekiya (J)
Results: Start-grid 27th / time 3:48.665 / race DNF fire – 326 laps
McLaren F1 GTR longtail – LM GT1: Powered by 6.0 liter BMW S70/3 V12 60º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 915 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. McLaren #025R

  • MINICHAMPS MC530 174339 (2x) diecast
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

1997 Le Mans 24h, McLaren F1 GTR longtail
The #40 car also caught fire, but this one during practice. It didn’t even make it to the start of the race.
Gulf Racing GTC #40: John Nielsen (DK) / Dr. Tomas Bscher (CZ) / Chris Goodwin (GB)
Results: Start-grid 23rd / time 3:49.330 / race DNS – 0 laps
McLaren F1 GTR longtail – LM GT1: Powered by 6.0 liter BMW S70/3 V12 60º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 915 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. McLaren #022R

  • MINICHAMPS MC530 174340 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

1997 Le Mans 24h, McLaren F1 GTR longtail
At least the #41 car stayed in one piece and finished 2nd overall, winning the GT1 category.
Gulf Racing GTC #41: Jean-Marc Gounon (F) / Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F) / Anders Olofsson (S)
Results: Start-grid 25th / time 3:48.369 / race 2nd – 360 laps / 1st GT1
McLaren F1 GTR longtail – LM GT1: Powered by 6.0 liter BMW S70/3 V12 60º, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 915 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. McLaren #020R

  • MINICHAMPS MC530 174341 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

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