Description
The McLaren F1 GTR Longtail was the final and most extreme evolution of the McLaren F1 racing programme, created for the 1997 racing season to meet the updated FIA GT1 regulations. It was a dramatically re-engineered version of the already successful F1 GTR, designed specifically to challenge purpose-built GT1 prototypes from Mercedes, Porsche and Nissan. The Longtail represented the highest level of performance ever achieved by the F1 platform, and its combination of aerodynamic refinement, reduced weight and an extraordinarily responsive V12 engine made it one of the most iconic GT racers of the 1990s.
At the heart of the Longtail was the BMW S70/2 6.1-litre naturally aspirated V12, a masterpiece of engineering that had powered the original road-going F1 and earlier GTRs. For GT1 competition it was restricted to around 600 horsepower, yet the character of the engine was unchanged: immediate throttle response, a soaring rev range and a purity of delivery unmatched by turbocharged rivals. The Longtail version included recalibrated mapping, revised intake arrangements and optimised cooling, all designed to let the engine operate reliably at sustained high loads during endurance races. The V12 remained one of the lightest, most responsive and most charismatic engines ever used in a GT racing car.
The Longtail chassis underwent extensive modification to meet the demands of the new GT1 era. McLaren lengthened the rear bodywork significantly, producing the signature “long tail” shape that improved aerodynamic efficiency and high-speed stability. The extended body allowed smoother airflow over the car, reduced drag, and increased downforce, especially when paired with the enlarged rear wing and reprofiled front splitter. The result was a far more aerodynamically stable machine than the 1995 and 1996 GTRs, capable of reaching very high speeds on long straights while remaining composed through fast corners.
Weight reduction was another core objective. McLaren removed or re-engineered much of the interior structure, replaced body panels with thinner carbon composites and optimised component placement. The Longtail weighed significantly less than its predecessors, improving acceleration, braking stability and tyre life. Suspension geometry was revised with new wishbones, uprights and damper settings tailored for GT1 races, giving the car a sharper front end and greater high-speed balance. The braking system featured lightweight discs and improved cooling, necessary for long-duration races where fade resistance mattered as much as outright stopping performance.
Visually, the Longtail was purposeful and aggressive. The stretched rear section, prominent diffuser, deep side skirts and wide rear wing created a dramatic silhouette. The front end was equally distinctive, with larger intakes, refined aero channels and a lower overall nose profile. These changes transformed the original gently curved F1 shape into a razor-edged endurance machine, built entirely around aerodynamic function. The Longtail’s stance reflected the direction GT racing was moving in: longer, lower, and more specialised than the earlier GT1 machinery that still retained road-car proportions.
Inside, the Longtail was stripped to pure race essentials. The centre-seat layout of the original road car was abandoned for a side-mounted driving position better suited to FIA regulations and easier driver changes. The cockpit featured a minimalist carbon dashboard, race telemetry displays, essential switches and a roll cage integrated into the carbon structure. The environment was cramped but efficient, focused entirely on long-distance competition.
On the track, the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail was defined by its balance, its stability at high speed and the extraordinary elasticity of its V12 engine. It lacked the outright top speed advantage of earlier F1 GTRs due to regulation-induced power restrictions, but the Longtail gained massively in braking performance, cornering stability and overall lap-time consistency. Drivers praised its predictable handling, its responsive front end and the remarkable reliability of the BMW V12. Over race distance, the Longtail could maintain a remarkably consistent pace, something that helped level the playing field against faster but more fragile GT1 rivals.
The Longtail competed in the 1997 FIA GT Championship and at Le Mans. Although it faced fierce competition from the Porsche 911 GT1 Evo, Mercedes CLK-GTR and Nissan R390 GT1, the McLaren proved competitive, especially in endurance races where its predictable handling and robust drivetrain came into their own. It secured notable results, including a second-place class finish at Le Mans in 1997 and several strong championship performances.
Today the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail is regarded as one of the most desirable endurance racers of its era and a crucial chapter in the story of the McLaren F1. Its engineering represents the final and most refined expression of Gordon Murray’s original design, pushed to the extreme for the GT1 wars of the late 1990s. Rare, uncompromising and still astonishingly fast, the Longtail remains one of the most celebrated GT racing machines ever developed.