McLaren returns to the Nurburgring for the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix 2014
McLaren will be exhibiting at the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix 2014, the most important German historic racing event taking place at the Nurburgring circuit this weekend, 8-9 August. The 42nd edition of the event will see some of the most significant cars from the brand’s legendary racing history alongside the new groundbreaking McLaren 650S Coupé and Spider.
McLaren House, situated within the Mercedes Arena, is a celebration of the continued success of the team over 50 years, and the race-winning heritage from McLaren. This constant drive for improvement enabled the young New Zealander, Bruce McLaren to lay the foundation for the company that became one of the most successful names in global motorsport. The passion which drove Bruce to build his own race cars are still deeply embedded in the brand’s philosophy. This strong pursuit of innovation combined with the ultimate desire to win resulted in unparalleled success in major motorsport championships including Formula 1, Can-Am, Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Three historic cars displayed at the McLaren House symbolise different stages of the brand’s journey competing at the highest level of motorsport.
M14 – 1970: One of the last cars driven by Bruce McLaren
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing was established in 1963 and in 1966 ventured into the competitive world of Formula 1. The M14 was the last Formula 1 car to be driven by Bruce McLaren. His final appearance in the 1970 Monaco Grand Prix was 12 days short of four years since his first Grand Prix in a car bearing his own name on the nose. Less than a month later, Bruce McLaren was killed testing a new Can-Am racing car at Goodwood Circuit.
Bruce’s legacy was continued by undeterred Denny Hulme who carried on racing in the M14. Despite an emotional distress and serious burns to his hands resulting from an accident earlier in the year, Hulme went on to claim the 1970 Can-Am championship, and secured a credible fourth in the Formula 1 championship.
M23 – 1974: The first Formula 1 championship winning car of McLaren
McLaren secured its first Formula 1 world championship in 1974 with Emerson Fittipaldi behind the wheel of the M23. The car was one of the most outstanding designs of its era and its unrivalled combination of performance, reliability and controllable handling left an indelible mark in the record books.
MP4/8 – 1993: The last Formula 1 winning car of Ayrton Senna
The MP4/8 was the first Formula 1 car to feature the McLaren ECU system and gear paddles on the steering wheel. The car used an early form of GPS to recognise its position around the track and automatically adjust the active suspension to create a performance advantage. The value of the system was quickly acknowledged following the pre-season testing at Silverstone, where the car driven by Ayrton Senna started setting the quickest lap times.
Concluding this remarkable display will be the latest chapter in the McLaren brand’s journey: the ground-breaking McLaren 650S that debuted at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. With 650PS, 678 Nm of torque and a power-to-weight ratio of 500PS per tonne, the McLaren 650S has been developed to give the enthusiast driver the ultimate in luxury, engagement and excitement on both road and track.
