This is the unbelievably wild 1996 Mercedes Benz-McLaren F1 GTR CLK-GTR test mule (chassis 11R) and if the name alone is not enough, then wait until you hear the full story. The F1 GTR was produced beginning in 1995 in order to be the visceral racing variant of the already legendary, high-performance, McLaren F1. The F1 GTR raced successfully in a wide variety of events such as the BPR Global GT Series, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the British GT Championship, and many others. The F1 GTR raced internationally from 1995 until 2005 when the final car was officially retired. This specific F1 was originally constructed for the Giroix Racing Team and is also known as the Larbre Compétition/Franck Muller F1 GTR. Chassis 11R originally featured a short tail, as seen in it’s debut during the 1996 BPR International Endurance GT Series where the car was driven by Fabien Giroix, Jean-Denis Délétraz and Didier Cottaz. During this time, the car featured a white livery, and was later altered to a black and orange color scheme by December of 1996 for the 4 Hour Kodak British Empire Trophy event at Silverstone. The car managed to successfully achieve a total of three 2nd place finishes at Monza, Curitiba and Brasili, and had a decently successful racing career before it would end up becoming one of the most unique vehicles of all time. Chassis 11R was quietly acquired by Mercedes-Benz in 1997 in order to be completely transformed and used as a test bed for their new GT1 challenger, the CLK-GTR. Subsequently, 11R received Prototype bodywork over a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, and notably, an AMG drivetrain. After testing, the car was auctioned off by @rmsothebys in 2000 following a thorough restoration process including new Papaya Orange paintwork, correct bodywork, and a BMW S70/2 V12.
How many made? 28 F1 GTRs, however, only one was used as a CLK-GTR test car!
Engine: BMW S70/2 (6.1 L) V12- 636hp/Mercedes-Benz LS600 (GT 112) 6.0 L V12 - unknown power
Debut: 1995 BPR season opener
Top speed: 230-240mph
0-60mph: around 3 seconds
Photo Credit: drivetribe.com
Research: @rarecarsonly