Pink Floyd drummer’s McLaren F1 GTR is on sale

The McLaren F1 is the most idolized super sports car of the modern era. It was created by Gordon Murray to be a pleasant car to drive and light, it was his perfect car concept.

There was no intention of making a racing version of the McLaren F1, but the creation of the BPR Global GT Series category fit like a glove for the model. It was part of the endurance championship and the regulations were aimed at production super sports cars.

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After much resistance, Gordon Murray agreed to do the racing version. The McLaren F1 GTR was introduced in 1995, with a more aggressive aerodynamic package, improvements in cooling, a lightened interior and a restrictor in the V12 engine that reduced power to 600 hp.

For 1997 the McLaren F1 GTR was redesigned, gaining a longer rear, and received a sequential gearbox. Only the monocoque was shared with the street model. These changes were made to enter the GT1 category.

In total, 28 units of the McLaren F1 GTR were made: nine in 1995, nine in 1996 and 10 in 1997 with a long rear. One of these units, the first made in 1996 and chassis number 10R, is for sale by the auction house RM Sotheby’s.

This particular unit participated in the pre-qualifying of the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans, but did not race. It was later converted to be a road car and was sold to Nick Mason, drummer for the band Pink Floyd.

The car is famous for having appeared in some photos to publicize the brand. The red paint with “GTR” written in yellow and the wheels also in yellow are unmistakable.

Nick Mason is famous for collecting sports cars, racing them and participating in the 24 hours of Le Mans. In the drummer’s garage, models such as Ferrari 250 GTO, Jaguar D-Type, Bugatti Tipo 35 and Bentley 41/2 Litre have passed.

The McLaren F1 GTR that is on sale has already crashed twice, the first was in 2009 with a journalist at the wheel. In 2017 Nick Mason crashed his car at Goodwood.

The vehicle was restored by Lanzante, a company specializing in the McLaren F1. Even with these two “claims” in the record, the estimate is that it will be sold for US$ 35 million, equivalent to R$ 179.43 million in direct conversion.