McLaren were no strangers to the homologation game having produced a small batch of F1 LM road cars that paved the way for the 1996 F1 GTR. However, 1997’s challenger would be a much more radical step forward.

To homologate the ‘97 F1 GTRs considerably longer and wider downforce-inducing bodywork, McLaren created a type approved road-going version to satisfy the rulemakers: the F1 GT.

Although only one production example had to be built in order to satisfy the homologation requirements, the F1 GT was a properly and expensively engineered variant that McLaren made available to anyone with enough money to buy one.

Bodywork

The GT’s most obvious departure from F1s of old was its new aerodynamically-optimised body that added 641mm of length and 120mm to the width of McLaren’s standard offering.

An elongated air-piercing nose featured a much lower leading edge, a shallow intake duct below the badge for the newly installed radiator, a re-profiled apron that housed two wide brake intakes and a massive exposed carbonfibre chin spoiler.

Further up, the F1 LM’s simple cutaway fender vents were substituted for bigger intricately contoured louvres that covered a much wider surface area.

The front lid, light units, windows, doors and exterior mirrors were all carried over from the standard F1 road car (although the mirrors were mounted on new pylons).