Just took Cesar for a spin, dry weather but temperatures close to freezing, highly ideal for a 650hp 1050 car but hey, tomorrow it's snowing so what the hell.
Impressions are, well, I don't think there are words strong enough to describe what an utterly outrageous experience it is to drive a Le Mans Mclaren F1 GTR on the road.
Congratulations to Paul Lanzante for an amazing conversion. The car is really really driveable, the clutch is light, the gearlever lateral movement is tiny but you get used to it, you just need to be firm with your right hand, the steering is mega sweet. The experience is dominated by the noise (the best ever), the driving position (the best ever) and the engine (the best ever).
Enough said isn't it?
I didn't floor it because of the cold tyres but took all the way to 6000/7000 rpm and the car just pulls and pulls, it's relentless. The torque available is phenomenal, I drove off by mistake in 3rd gear, no problem, 6th gear at 100 kmh on the motorway and it just pulls. Remember this is a car that did the 24h of Le Mans 95.
BMW motorists are not engineers, they are wizzards.
Downsides? Your mate sits behind you so you can't see him (so what?). There's not cup holder or ashtray and the ventilation is on all the time, so I was freezing my balls off and my hands were blue.
Next drive, track in Spain.
More to follow.
Jan 17, 2013 4:25:28 PM
Thanks your comments! It was fantastic to read!
Very interesting and glad you liked the car. I just can not say anything becouse you know what I will be saying here but very pleased to hear you liked it. Hope to read your experiences more and have some images also of the car and why not videos also? Would that be possible?
Anyway, Thanks for sharing this!!!
Why's the ventilation on all the the time ? no switches to turn it off ? or just get rid of it and lose weight ?
Speaking of cold tires, I finally lost traction in 2nd gear yesterday in the GT2 on Michelin PSS tires, but it wasn't as scary as the cup tires that seem to do it a lot in all four seasons early in the morning
BiTurbo:
Why's the ventilation on all the the time ? no switches to turn it off ? or just get rid of it and lose weight ?
Speaking of cold tires, I finally lost traction in 2nd gear yesterday in the GT2 on Michelin PSS tires, but it wasn't as scary as the cup tires that seem to do it a lot in all four seasons early in the morning
They seem to be more like open air vents than a proper ventilation system, so word of advice for GTR drivers, not ideal in icy weather and super hot weather, because another issue is that the car has no window, just fixed plexis.
Michelin Supersports are excellent tyres, good choice, Cups are nice but need to be warm to work well, also don't last very long and don't like standing water, but great performance tyres.
On the GTR, they are standard Michelin pilot sport which will get shattered in about 10 min if I drive it on the track. Trying to get a set of four additional wheels and slicks.
Thanks for the kind words guys.
picture below, the infamous air vent blowing freezing air onto the passenger's balls.
Thanks for the onboard image. Sure GTR is a bit different car to live with than any Lamborghini or Ferrari.
You only have to watch from Youtube that Fifth Gear's episode Enzo vs McLaren F1, where Tiff Needell drives first Enzo and then that also roadlegal #16R GTR, and I think anyone can see how much he loved the GTR....:)
Looking forward to see more images. :)
Jan 18, 2013 8:36:39 AM
MKSGR:
Enmanuel:
Futch:... so word of advice for GTR drivers ...
It's so funny that Francois says that like he's talking about a VW Golf that anyone could have in their garage.
In other forums "GTR" would used to refer to a completely other car
Yes true sorry, I think there's like maybe 10 of us worldwide!
Regarding communication, there is an intercom system in the car, just like in any rallye cars so that's really good as it allows you to speak to your passenger without shouting and also allows for quiet long journeys, well sort of. Speaking of long journeys, you lose the side boots of the road car but you gain all the space on the right hand side, you can put soft bags, jackets, etc and leave for a long weekend, like goodwood or Le Mans.
Just occured to me that without windows and with the central position, motorways tolls are going to be quite a challenge.
Another irritation one has to get used to, there is no fuel gauge in the car, there is a fuel used read out on the motec like screen, just like a race car. Well that's because, it is a race car...
So one has to monitor that regularly not go empty. Another potentially very embarassing moment.
finGTR:
Thanks for the onboard image. Sure GTR is a bit different car to live with than any Lamborghini or Ferrari.
You only have to watch from Youtube that Fifth Gear's episode Enzo vs McLaren F1, where Tiff Needell drives first Enzo and then that also roadlegal #16R GTR, and I think anyone can see how much he loved the GTR....:)Looking forward to see more images. :)
I watched that video several times in excitement of my own drive! It is a very nice video. The noise is pretty much accurate.
What turned out as a good surprise though is the steering and turning cycle, Tiff mentions a very tight turning circle but my GTR was perfectly fine and very easy to drive in London traffic.
Oh another thing is how popular the car is, man, I've driven some nice cars on the roads and I get all sorts of reactions(always a mix of good and bad). the Carrera GT is beloved by the public for example, so is the F40, but this was just insane! And in a good way! Thumbs up all around, camera phones out everywhere.
"Nice paintwork!" "Woah, an F1!" Kids smiling, etc etc etc.
Not really what a petrolhead is after when driving a car but it definitely puts a smile on your face.
God saves the Queen! (and munich...)
Futch:
BiTurbo:
Why's the ventilation on all the the time ? no switches to turn it off ? or just get rid of it and lose weight ?
Speaking of cold tires, I finally lost traction in 2nd gear yesterday in the GT2 on Michelin PSS tires, but it wasn't as scary as the cup tires that seem to do it a lot in all four seasons early in the morning
They seem to be more like open air vents than a proper ventilation system, so word of advice for GTR drivers, not ideal in icy weather and super hot weather, because another issue is that the car has no window, just fixed plexis.
Michelin Supersports are excellent tyres, good choice, Cups are nice but need to be warm to work well, also don't last very long and don't like standing water, but great performance tyres.
On the GTR, they are standard Michelin pilot sport which will get shattered in about 10 min if I drive it on the track. Trying to get a set of four additional wheels and slicks.
Thanks for the kind words guys.
picture below, the infamous air vent blowing freezing air onto the passenger's balls.
Lol, such an outrageous sight on public roads, especially remembering that thing used to thunder along the Mulsanne straight.
Is the gearbox fully manual in GTR's, like it is in the roadcar, or paddle-operated?
Would you take it to the 24H of LM this year? Should be one of the best trips you could make in this car, imo.
Futch:
Oh another thing is how popular the car is, man, I've driven some nice cars on the roads and I get all sorts of reactions(always a mix of good and bad). the Carrera GT is beloved by the public for example, so is the F40, but this was just insane! And in a good way! Thumbs up all around, camera phones out everywhere."Nice paintwork!" "Woah, an F1!" Kids smiling, etc etc etc.
Not really what a petrolhead is after when driving a car but it definitely puts a smile on your face.
It seems like McLaren's brand prestige is on another level above Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini. I have the same reactions even in the lesser MP4-12C.
Could be the trade mark McLaren doors :)