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Media information 13.00 BST, 14 May 2015 FAMOUS FIVE McLAREN F1 GTR FINISHERS TO BE REUNITED AT LE MANS TWO DECADES AFTER DOMINANT RESULT The five McLaren F1 GTRs that finished the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans to complete a parade lap 20 years after famous victory Ultimate celebration of the GTR legacy as the McLaren P1™ GTR makes global dynamic debut Follow the celebrations and join the conversation on the McLaren social channels using the hashtag #McLaren95 McLaren Automotive and McLaren Special Operations (MSO) will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans win next month with the ultimate display at the French circuit. The five examples of the McLaren F1 GTR that dominated the 1995 race, including the race-winning chassis #01R, will take to the track led by the latest McLaren model to wear the famous GTR badge as the McLaren P1™ GTR makes its global public dynamic debut. This will be the first time all five cars have been on track together since the chequered flag fell shortly after 16.00, 18 June 1995. Twenty years on from the famous win, the five cars that finished – chassis #01R, #06R, #02R, #07R and #05R – will return for a parade lap of the legendary circuit prior to the lights going green for the 83rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The McLaren P1™ GTR will lead the charge driven by French former racer Yannick Dalmas, who was part of the winning driver line-up in the number 59 McLaren F1 GTR. His teammates J.J. Lehto and Masanori Sekiya will also join the parade, along with owners of the limited edition 650S Le Mans. Designed and developed by MSO, the McLaren P1™ GTR is a 1,000PS (986bhp) track-dedicated model which provides membership to the world’s most exclusive McLaren ownership programme. The McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme offers unique access to race winning knowledge and expertise within the McLaren Technology Centre, and a bespoke driver training programme designed to hone and optimise driving skills. DEBUT VICTORY SECURES TRIPLE CROWN The McLaren F1 secured its place in motorsport history 20 years ago when five lightly race modified examples crossed the finish line of the world’s most famous endurance race in France to complete one of the most dominant results the event had ever seen. The McLaren F1 GTR, in its debut outing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, claimed outright victory, and also finished third, fourth, fifth and 13th against a field of purpose-built prototypes and more established manufacturers. This result meant that McLaren was, and still is, the only manufacturer to have claimed the Triple Crown of Motorsport – victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. THE FAMOUS FIVE FINISHERS Team: Kokusai Aihatsu Racing (GB) – chassis #01R Car number: 59 Drivers: Yannick Dalmas (F), J.J. Lehto (SF), Masanori Sekiya (J) Qualified: P9 / Finished: P1 Team: Mach One Racing (GB) – chassis #06R Car number: 51 Drivers: Derek Bell (GB), Justin Bell (GB), Andy Wallace (GB) Qualified: P13/ Finished: P3 Team: Gulf Racing (GB) – chassis #02R Car number: 24 Drivers: Ray Bellm (GB), Mark Blundell (GB), Maurizio Sandro Sala (BR) Qualified: P11 / Finished: P4 Team: Giroix Racing Team (F) – chassis #07R Car number: 50 Drivers: Jean-Denis Delétraz (CH), Fabien Giroix (F), Olivier Grouillard (F) Qualified: P15 / Finished: P5 Team: Société BBA Compétition (F) – chassis #05R Car number: 42 Drivers: Jean-Luc Maury-Laribiére (F), Hervé Poulain (F), Marc Sourd (F) Qualified: P20 / Finished: P13 MSO HERITAGE GETS THE McLAREN F1 GTR BACK ON TRACK McLaren Special Operations, as it is known today, was launched at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2011. However, a division was first set up as the McLaren Customer Care Programme in the 1990s to service, maintain and personalise the McLaren F1 for owners. This service continues at McLaren, and is now managed by the MSO Heritage team, offering an unrivalled level of knowledge and expertise on the McLaren F1. Following its last public outing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2013 to honour 50 years of McLaren, the MSO Heritage team has been responsible for returning the race-winning #01R to the track. Ahead of the 20th anniversary, a number of key figures involved with the original McLaren F1 GTR project have looked back at preparations for the race weekend, and the event itself. Visit cars.mclaren.com/le-mans-memories to hear these unique insights into one of the true milestones in the history of the McLaren brand. Ends Notes to Editors: A selection of high resolution images accompanying this release is available to download from the McLaren Automotive media site – www.media.mclarenautomotive.com. About McLaren Automotive: McLaren Automotive is a British manufacturer of luxury, high-performance sports cars, located at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey. Following the global launch of McLaren Automotive in 2010, the groundbreaking 12C was launched in 2011, the 12C Spider in 2012, and the limited-run McLaren P1™ went into production in 2013. In keeping with its plan to introduce a new model each year, the company unveiled the 650S, in coupe and Spider form in 2014, and has announced the Sports Series among the models to be introduced in 2015. The brand continues to expand, and McLaren posted a profit during 2013 – only the third year of vehicle production. This was followed in 2014, by a third consecutive year of growth in sales with a record 1,648 vehicles delivered via a dedicated global network of retailers in every major automotive market. McLaren Automotive Partners To support the development, engineering and manufacture of its range of innovative and highly acclaimed sports cars, McLaren Automotive has partnered with world leading companies to provide specialist expertise and technology including, AkzoNobel, ExxonMobil, Pirelli and SAP. Designed for the track; Developed for the road The connection between Formula 1 and road cars at McLaren is a natural process of experience, knowledge, principles and process transfer. Through the integration of 50 years of Formula 1™ racing expertise and knowledge, and over 20 years of heritage in producing landmark sports cars, McLaren Automotive designs, develops and builds a range of technologically advanced and groundbreaking high performance sports cars which are designed to be a no compromise drive on both road and track. McLaren has pioneered the use of carbon fibre in vehicle production over the past 30 years, and since introducing a carbon chassis into racing and road cars with the 1981 McLaren MP4/1 and 1993 McLaren F1 respectively, McLaren has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis. Visit cars.mclaren.com for more details. Further information Wayne Bruce Global Communications Director | McLaren Automotive Limited Phone: +44 (0) 1483 261500 Mobile: +44 (0) 7768 132429 Email: [email protected] Dave Eden Global PR Manager | McLaren Automotive Limited Phone: +44 (0) 1483 262867 Mobile: +44 (0) 7500 857089 Email: [email protected] Twitter: www.twitter.com/DaveEden Media website: www.media.mclarenautomotive.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/mclarenautomotive Twitter: www.twitter.com/McLarenAuto You Tube: www.youtube.com/mclarenautomotivetv .