The McLaren F1 was one of the most expensive cars ever built but, more importantly, it had the highest top speed of any production car to date. Street versions rarely surface for sale and race cars are even scarcer, but later in August the ex-GTC Gulf Team Davidoff 1997 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe will be auctioned by Bonhams at its Quail Lodge event.
The McLaren coming up for auction is chassis number 028R, making it the final McLaren F1 GTR built in McLaren’s Woking, Surrey factory. Chassis 028R is also one of 10 ‘Longtail’ cars built that year. In 1997, the Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren F1 raced FIA GT Championship four-hour races at the Nurburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Austria’s A1-Ring, Donington Park and Mugello; three-hour races at Sebring and Laguna Seca; and at in the Suzuka 1000 kms. Chassis 028R placed sixth at Suzuka and Laguna Seca, seventh at Donington, and 10th at Sebring.
“We are delighted to have been appointed by an international collector to represent this breathtaking piece of competition machinery,” says Mark Osborne, Head of Motoring at Bonhams, in a release. “Racing legends like the McLaren F1 GTR rarely, if ever appear at auction…”
The ex-GTC Gulf Team Davidoff 1997 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe (yes, that’s a mouthful) will be auctioned off in its full race glory including the Gulf Oil pale blue and orange team livery at the Bonhams event in Carmel, California on August 16- 17 at Quail Lodge.
