www.QV500.com - McLaren F1 Part 4: The F1 GT ‘Long Tail’
 
McLaren began making the first major revisions to the F1 during late 1996. Carried out in an attempt to ensure the GTR's continual dominance, the BPR series in which it primarily ran would be undergoing big changes for 1997. Firstly there was newly acquired FIA World Championship status while the arrival of scratch built racers from Porsche and Mercedes dictated McLaren had to hit back with something special. However, before any racing could be done, the F1 GTR '97 had to be homologated by building a road-going version that was supposedly available to customers.
   
Only three GT ‘Long Tail' road cars were made and they remain the most scarce F1's in existence. Despite a much altered appearance, the monocoque remained totally unchanged during transition. Longer, wider and lower, yet still some 20kg lighter than the stock F1, GT's rode on distinctive 18-inch magnesium wheels. The mechanicals were more or less unchanged with a Type S70/2 627bhp engine, so a top speed in excess of 250mph might have been possible with the new low drag bodywork. Externally, the longer front and rear overhangs were the result of further wind tunnel testing to optimise aerodynamic efficiency. An additional nose-mounted radiator was located underneath the re-designed front lid while heavily lourved front wings, a bigger roof-mounted air scoop and flared rear wheelarches differentiated the GT. Elongated rear bodywork featured extra vents, twin NACA ducts on the rear wings and a huge kick-up aerofoil of questionable style but undoubted effectiveness. The meshed tail was redesigned in order to optimise heat extraction and as a result, McLaren saw fit to delete the four lower horizontal vents. Built between late 1996 and early '97, chassis numbers of the GT trio are listed below:
 
56 XP GT Prototype, Silverstone Green
54 F1 GT Black
58 F1 GT Dark Burgundy