McLaren Automotive recently marked the 100-year anniversary of the legendary Le Mans with a spectacular display and active participation at the 2023 Le Mans Classic. The event celebrated the illustrious history of one of the world’s most famous endurance races and McLaren’s memorable debut victory in 1995. At its first attempt, McLaren clinched the Le Mans 24 Hours race with the iconic F1 GTR, a race-prepared version of the road-going F1. Drivers Yannick Dalmas, Masanori Sekiya, and JJ Letho traversed 298 laps in challenging conditions to take the win, with McLarens occupying four of the top five spots in the official classification. This victory completed the unofficial ‘Triple Crown’ for McLaren, marking victories in three of the world’s most demanding motor races – Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500, and the Monaco Grand Prix.
This display serves as a significant element in McLaren’s ongoing celebration of 60 years since its foundation in 1963 by Bruce McLaren. The original 1995 race-winning F1 GTR, bearing chassis #01R, has been on display at The Grand Centenary Exhibition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans throughout June. Hosted within the Le Mans Museum, this exhibition includes 86 iconic Le Mans cars, with over 60 of them being past winners. The Le Mans Classic also witnessed high-speed demonstrations of McLaren’s latest supercars around the Le Mans circuit. Both the Artura, McLaren’s first series-production V6 hybrid supercar, and the V8-powered 720S took part in these exhibitions, thrilling McLaren enthusiasts and customers.
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The McLaren paddock stand at the Le Mans Classic welcomed visitors to admire an impressive lineup of McLarens. Ultimate Series representation was ensured by the McLaren Senna, and the 765LT Coupe also took center stage. Additionally, two more F1 GTRs, each boasting Le Mans history, were on display, further reinforcing McLaren’s presence at the event. As the automaker embarks on another 60 years, the company continues to celebrate its racing heritage while pushing the boundaries of automotive technology with its current and future supercar lineup.
Sources: McLaren
