{"id":332,"date":"2025-09-27T14:52:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T14:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ryangsellman.com\/?page_id=332"},"modified":"2026-03-22T00:05:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T00:05:09","slug":"mclaren","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ryangsellman.com\/?page_id=332","title":{"rendered":"McLaren"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

McLaren F1 GTR Longtail \u2013 Chassis 28R<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Ryan Gsellman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The McLaren F1 GTR Longtail was the ultimate development of McLaren\u2019s record-breaking F1 platform. Built for the 1997 FIA GT Championship, the Longtail differed substantially from the earlier F1 GTRs, trading the road-car resemblance for a body extended at both ends, a taller rear wing, and far more aggressive aerodynamics. The package shaved weight to around 915 kilograms, while BMW\u2019s 6.1-liter S70\/3 V12\u2014restricted for GT racing\u2014still produced about 600 horsepower. With its sequential gearbox and track-focused geometry, the Longtail marked McLaren\u2019s shift from converted road car to purpose-engineered GT1 machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chassis 28R \u2013 The Last of the Line<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Chassis 28R occupies a special place as the final F1 GTR ever built and the tenth Longtail produced. Delivered to GTC Competition\u2019s Gulf Team Davidoff midway through 1997, it was intended as a spare but quickly became a frontline entry after heavy attrition struck the team\u2019s primary cars. Wearing the now-legendary light-blue and orange Gulf\/Davidoff livery, 28R became an unmistakable part of the FIA GT paddock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Racing Career<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

28R first appeared at the N\u00fcrburgring 4 Hours in June 1997, driven by Andrew Gilbert-Scott and Anders Olofsson, though its debut ended in retirement after an accident. At Spa later that summer, the car was eliminated in a first-lap collision involving the Gulf squad. Despite this rough start, 28R later secured credible results: seventh place at Donington with Geoff Lees and Olofsson, tenth at Sebring, and sixth at Laguna Seca to conclude the season. These consistent points finishes helped Gulf\/Davidoff remain competitive against the rising Porsche and Mercedes GT1 machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Specifications<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Chassis:<\/strong> Carbon-fiber monocoque with extensive aero revisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Engine:<\/strong> BMW 6.1-liter S70\/3 V12, naturally aspirated, ~600 bhp with restrictors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Transmission:<\/strong> 6-speed sequential manual driving the rear wheels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Weight:<\/strong> Approximately 915 kg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Drivers:<\/strong> Anders Olofsson, Andrew Gilbert-Scott, Geoff Lees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Later Life and Legacy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Following its competitive outings, 28R entered private hands and was preserved in Gulf\/Davidoff colors. The car has since become a highlight of major concours and historic events, including The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering where it earned the \u201cSpirit of The Quail\u201d award. Collectors and enthusiasts prize it not only as the last McLaren F1 GTR built, but also as a living symbol of the late 1990s GT1 era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Enduring Significance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Within the 28 total F1 GTRs produced, 28R represents both an ending and a beginning: the close of the F1\u2019s racing story and the spark for McLaren\u2019s future use of the \u201cLongtail\u201d designation on road-going supercars. For fans and historians, it remains one of the most evocative McLarens ever to line up on a grid\u2014an embodiment of the moment when GT racing reached its zenith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    McLaren F1 GTR Longtail \u2013 Chassis 28R By Ryan Gsellman The McLaren F1 GTR Longtail was the ultimate development of McLaren\u2019s record-breaking F1 platform. Built for the 1997 FIA GT Championship, the Longtail differed substantially from the earlier F1 GTRs, trading the road-car resemblance for a body extended at both ends, a taller rear wing, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-332","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t