The lobby of the McLaren Technology Center in Woking, England home of both McLaren Racing Formula One and Mclaren Automotive is littered with legendary racers from the company’s past. However unfortunately for us, the days in which it is open to the public are few and far between. Luckily, McLaren has decided to bring these cars to you in a new video series. Each of the webisodes will highlight a different car from the company’s 50-year history.
The first car we get a look at in the series is the MP4/4, designed by Steve Nichols and Gordon Murray and driven by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in his 1988 Formula 1 championship-winning season. Between Ayrton and Alain, the MP4/4 won 15 of the 16 races that season. Some say it is the most dominant Formula One car to ever complete a full season.
The first thing you notice about the MP4/4 is how downright minimalist and stripped back it is compared to modern Formula One cars. The steering wheel features only two buttons; one for the radio and the other for boost. The “H” pattern gear shift seems ancient compared to the paddle-controlled hydraulic gearboxes of today. That being said the MP4/4’s 1.5-liter turbocharged V6 is certainly on point with the new turbo charged enginge designs powering the cars in 2014.
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