Mclaren F1 in big accident
Discussion
Peloton25 said:
I'm fairly certain that of the 106 that were built in total, including GTRs, LMs and GTs, that we've lost a total of 6.
XP1 - first prototype, crashed and burned in the Namibian desert during development testing
XP2 - MIRA crash test car, later crushed
Chassis #004 or #005 - crashed by a mechanic in Brunei, salvaged for parts only according to sources
Chassis #010 - crashed by Bernd Pischetsrieder, then President of BMW and "written off"
Chassis #017 - crashed by Christopher Dawes on a rain slicked road in Essex. He and his two passengers perished in the ensuing fire
Chassis #033 - crashed by its German owner on the Autobahn. He chose not to have McLaren repair the car and instead ordered a new one.
There are a lot of others that have been crashed, even a few multiple times like this one, but as far as I know the rest have been repaired leaving us with 100 total F1s in existence today.
>8^)
ER
The tubs are very repairable: Two GTC GTR F1's (#22R & #25R)had oil fires at Le Mans in 1997 - both repaired. Footage of one of the fires is below. The GTR fires were both caused by the aero grade clip holding the hose onto the oil pump failing. The tubs were toast, but repaired and went on to raceXP1 - first prototype, crashed and burned in the Namibian desert during development testing
XP2 - MIRA crash test car, later crushed
Chassis #004 or #005 - crashed by a mechanic in Brunei, salvaged for parts only according to sources
Chassis #010 - crashed by Bernd Pischetsrieder, then President of BMW and "written off"
Chassis #017 - crashed by Christopher Dawes on a rain slicked road in Essex. He and his two passengers perished in the ensuing fire

Chassis #033 - crashed by its German owner on the Autobahn. He chose not to have McLaren repair the car and instead ordered a new one.
There are a lot of others that have been crashed, even a few multiple times like this one, but as far as I know the rest have been repaired leaving us with 100 total F1s in existence today.
>8^)
ER
http://youtu.be/7X_lJUyOnRs
Also - from 1:24 -
http://youtu.be/ctNvi-_kdEQ
Edited by Amizade on Friday 5th August 08:32
Edited by Amizade on Friday 5th August 08:35
Edited by Amizade on Friday 5th August 08:39
Edited by Amizade on Friday 5th August 08:48
Furyblade_Lee said:
I think he crashed McLarens own demonstrator (silver one?) which was on loan to him while his own one was still being constructed.
You're right that the F1 he crashed didn't belong to him, but it wasn't silver. Chassis #017 was Calypso Red Pearl - here's one of just a few decent photos of it.
It's unclear exactly what he was doing driving it at the time but he did supposedly have his own car on the way as you say. His car would not have been being constructed though as production had ended 1 year prior.
>8^)
ER
Edited by Peloton25 on Friday 5th August 08:57
y2blade said:
pb said:
camshafted said:
Which forum was it on? I'd love to track down the original snapper.
http://www.corsa-c.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?340133-Someone-cant-drive-in-the-rain&p=6565783&viewfull=1#post6565783
I like the "He'll just buy another one" comments the most

Peloton25 said:
Chassis #017 - crashed by Christopher Dawes on a rain slicked road in Essex. He and his two passengers perished in the ensuing fire 
I was sitting in my wifes friend garden when this happened, the engine came out of the car as it hit the tree, and ended up in her front garden.Not 50 yds from where we were all sitting.
Horrific accident and I think about it everytime I drive along that bit of road.
As a side note, and of no importance at all, but it may pop up when your on millionaire, Liam from Prodigy brought the guys house,now for sale at 6.5 million if anybody fancies it.
Amizade said:
If you include the two GTR F1's burnt out at Le Mans in 1997 - that makes 98. Footage of one of the fires is below. The GTR fires were both caused by the aero grade clip holding the hose onto the oil pump failing. The tubs were toast - no one would consider repairs due to delamination.... surely someone fixed them?
http://youtu.be/7X_lJUyOnRs
All of the GTRs have been repaired and all still exist today. There are a few that have not been seen in a while, but that info comes direct from a source in McLaren's Customer Care Group.http://youtu.be/7X_lJUyOnRs
Edited by Amizade on Friday 5th August 08:32
GTR #25R wearing race number '39' had the most serious fire at Le Mans in 1997 but it was eventually repaired and began racing in the Japan GT series in 1999. It continued racing all the way through 2005 and was the last McLaren F1 GTR competing in a professional race series anywhere in the world. I believe it has been retired to a private collection in Japan.
GTR #22R was the other one to catch fire in 1997 wearing race number '40' but it was repaired by September of that year and continued racing several more times until the end of the 1998 season. It recently underwent a full restoration and has become part of the Rofgo Collection of Gulf racing cars that was put together by Duncan Hamilton for a wealthy client. The cars were shown at the most recent Retromobile in Paris back in February.
>8^)
ER
I'd like to add my thoughts and best wishes to Rowan for a speedy recovery. It is very good news that Rowan was not seriously hurt, and shows how well constructed the F1 is.
Like any true petrolhead, I expect Rowan is far more worried about his beloved F1 than his shoulder, I know that's how I was when I crashed my motorbike some years ago.
If you happen to read this thread Rowan, get well soon and good luck with getting your F1 repaired.
Cheers,
Steve
Like any true petrolhead, I expect Rowan is far more worried about his beloved F1 than his shoulder, I know that's how I was when I crashed my motorbike some years ago.
If you happen to read this thread Rowan, get well soon and good luck with getting your F1 repaired.
Cheers,
Steve
bass2rez said:
I'd like to add my thoughts and best wishes to Rowan for a speedy recovery. It is very good news that Rowan was not seriously hurt, and shows how well constructed the F1 is.
Like any true petrolhead, I expect Rowan is far more worried about his beloved F1 than his shoulder, I know that's how I was when I crashed my motorbike some years ago.
If you happen to read this thread Rowan, get well soon and good luck with getting your F1 repaired.
Cheers,
Steve
+1Like any true petrolhead, I expect Rowan is far more worried about his beloved F1 than his shoulder, I know that's how I was when I crashed my motorbike some years ago.
If you happen to read this thread Rowan, get well soon and good luck with getting your F1 repaired.
Cheers,
Steve
I think as soon as you realise you're OK, thoughts turn to the car. PM Flemke for tips on F1 fixing! ;-)
Peloton25 said:
All of the GTRs have been repaired and all still exist today. There are a few that have not been seen in a while, but that info comes direct from a source in McLaren's Customer Care Group.
GTR #25R wearing race number '39' had the most serious fire at Le Mans in 1997 but it was eventually repaired and began racing in the Japan GT series in 1999. It continued racing all the way through 2005 and was the last McLaren F1 GTR competing in a professional race series anywhere in the world. I believe it has been retired to a private collection in Japan.
GTR #22R was the other one to catch fire in 1997 wearing race number '40' but it was repaired by September of that year and continued racing several more times until the end of the 1998 season. It recently underwent a full restoration and has become part of the Rofgo Collection of Gulf racing cars that was put together by Duncan Hamilton for a wealthy client. The cars were shown at the most recent Retromobile in Paris back in February.
>8^)
ER
Stand... corrected! I just had the memory of looking under very charred tubs!GTR #25R wearing race number '39' had the most serious fire at Le Mans in 1997 but it was eventually repaired and began racing in the Japan GT series in 1999. It continued racing all the way through 2005 and was the last McLaren F1 GTR competing in a professional race series anywhere in the world. I believe it has been retired to a private collection in Japan.
GTR #22R was the other one to catch fire in 1997 wearing race number '40' but it was repaired by September of that year and continued racing several more times until the end of the 1998 season. It recently underwent a full restoration and has become part of the Rofgo Collection of Gulf racing cars that was put together by Duncan Hamilton for a wealthy client. The cars were shown at the most recent Retromobile in Paris back in February.
>8^)
ER
Furyblade_Lee said:
Cant believe someone said McLaren did the world a favour by the death of Christopher Dawes!!! Thats not nice is it?
From memory, (and what was written in the press ) he sold his IT business for in excess of £20,000,000 and spent quite a lot on fast cars. He also "apparently" got involved in drug trafficing, one time requiring to flee his plush mansion by helicoptor to evade some heavies who were coming through the front door... I think he was fronting cash for the deals, not actually doing it himself.
I think he crashed McLarens own demonstrator (silver one?) which was on loan to him while his own one was still being constructed. He overtook several cars at once ( some reports were wet roads, some not )and lost it hitting a tree. All 3 occupants died, the car went up in an inferno due to the magnesium, not nice. Allegedly he was driving like a dick, but again only what I read in the papers at the time. Maybe he wasn't a particularly nice chap, but even so.
I remember about a year after being in Caterham Cars showroom in Surrey, and there being a quite awesome Caterham JPE in flourescent yellow, being sold off by his estate. Cant remember too many details but it had been tuned further that standard so he liked his fast cars.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23374483-im-glad-hes-dead-says-rape-victim-who-won-historic-259000.doFrom memory, (and what was written in the press ) he sold his IT business for in excess of £20,000,000 and spent quite a lot on fast cars. He also "apparently" got involved in drug trafficing, one time requiring to flee his plush mansion by helicoptor to evade some heavies who were coming through the front door... I think he was fronting cash for the deals, not actually doing it himself.
I think he crashed McLarens own demonstrator (silver one?) which was on loan to him while his own one was still being constructed. He overtook several cars at once ( some reports were wet roads, some not )and lost it hitting a tree. All 3 occupants died, the car went up in an inferno due to the magnesium, not nice. Allegedly he was driving like a dick, but again only what I read in the papers at the time. Maybe he wasn't a particularly nice chap, but even so.
I remember about a year after being in Caterham Cars showroom in Surrey, and there being a quite awesome Caterham JPE in flourescent yellow, being sold off by his estate. Cant remember too many details but it had been tuned further that standard so he liked his fast cars.
HereBeMonsters said:
bass2rez said:
I'd like to add my thoughts and best wishes to Rowan for a speedy recovery. It is very good news that Rowan was not seriously hurt, and shows how well constructed the F1 is.
Like any true petrolhead, I expect Rowan is far more worried about his beloved F1 than his shoulder, I know that's how I was when I crashed my motorbike some years ago.
If you happen to read this thread Rowan, get well soon and good luck with getting your F1 repaired.
Cheers,
Steve
+1Like any true petrolhead, I expect Rowan is far more worried about his beloved F1 than his shoulder, I know that's how I was when I crashed my motorbike some years ago.
If you happen to read this thread Rowan, get well soon and good luck with getting your F1 repaired.
Cheers,
Steve
I think as soon as you realise you're OK, thoughts turn to the car. PM Flemke for tips on F1 fixing! ;-)
you start thinking about the state of the car/bike once you realize you are still alive and have all your parts attached
Amizade said:
Stand... corrected! I just had the memory of looking under very charred tubs!
No problem - maintaining and sharing the most accurate account of the history of McLaren F1s is what I (try to) do. And yes, #25R in particular was quite a mess when it arrived back in the pits.

>8^)
ER
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