Le Mans Fairytale: The McLaren F1 GTR's Historic Debut Victory

Taken from Motor Sport Online June 2023

The McLaren F1 GTR entered the history books in 1995 having become one of only three makes to win the Le Mans 24 hours on its first attempt. It was also the last road-based supercar to win at Le Mans and it came about almost by accident.

The story has various versions according to whom you ask. Ray Bellm, a property developer who drove the cars in the BPR GT series in the 1990s says that he demanded that Ron Dennis build a racing version of the car; if he didn’t, Bellm would develop one himself.