McLaren Celebrated 30 Years of Carbon Fibre with John Watson and MP4-12C
Almost 30 years to the day after McLaren introduced the first carbon chassis to F1 racing, they are seeing the technology begin to transfer to more mainstream production.
John Watson who, 30 years ago at Silverstone track, not only was the first man to win a Grand Prix in a carbon fibre-chassis car but, after a massive accident at Monza later that year, was to soon appreciate the innovative material’s safety properties.
On March 5, 1981 McLaren Racing introduced the carbon fiber monocoque to Formula 1 in the McLaren MP4/1: it offered an unbeatable combination of strength and lightness.
The ground-breaking John Barnard design with its all-carbonfibre chassis had an immediate impact on the series, with driver John Watson winning the 1981 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Within a few years, every other Formula 1 team had followed suit, and McLaren's place as carbon innovators was sealed.
On March 4, 2011, John Watson was re-united with the MP4/1 at Silverstone as he got the opportunity to drive the McLaren MP4-12C, the latest carbon fiber-based road car from McLaren, and the first to feature an innovative, one-piece molded carbon chassis structure: the MonoCell.
The MP4-12C is the first of a new range of McLaren road cars with a hollow carbon fibre chassis.
“I’m very proud to have been a part of McLaren launching the first carbon fibre chassis in Formula 1,” said Watson. “After that crash in Monza, I was back driving one of our Formula 1 test cars within four days at Donington. Despite the accident appearing horrific to those watching, I was clearly protected by a safety cell of the strength and rigidity the world of Formula 1 had never before seen. I’m sure that because of that innovative technology, I walked away unscathed.”
Since then McLaren have routinely used carbon structures in the F1 machines, as well as the McLaren F1 sportscar that won the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours and the Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren – to date the most commercially successful carbon-based car.
The new car will try to surpass that mark, being the first car with a one piece carbon chassis available for less that £200,000 and with the manufacturing process honed further the MonoCell safety cell can be made in just four hours, compared to the 300 hours needed for the SLR. This process is central to McLaren’s plans to produce a range of carbon based sportscars.
“The MP4-12C is mind-bogglingly quick!” was Watson’s frank assessment of the 592hp machine. “It is by far and away the fastest road car I’ve ever driven. Between 80-130 mph it really feels as fast as my old Formula 1 car. I only drive it in Normal mode, so I can’t begin to imagine what it is like in Sport or Track modes!”
McLaren's carbon heritage
March 5, 1981: McLaren MP4/1, the first Ron Dennis-era Formula 1 car, and the first Formula 1 car with a carbon fiber monocoque, races at Silverstone.
1993: The legendary McLaren F1 sports car becomes the first road car to feature a carbon chassis. It sets the production car speed record in March 1998 at 240.1mph.
1995: A McLaren F1 enters the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race and wins on its debut: the last road-based racing car to win at Le Mans.
2009: The last of over 2000 carbon fiber-based Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren supercars is produced at the McLaren Technology Centre. It becomes the most successful car built on a carbon chassis.
2010: The McLaren MP4-12C is revealed, featuring a new one-piece, molded and hollow carbon composite chassis.
2011: January sees the first 12C production car enter the MTC production line as volume production of the carbon chassis begins at CarboTech
2011: March will see the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team compete with McLaren Racing's 200th carbon fiber chassis on the MP4/26.
2012: McLaren Automotive plans to launch its second carbon-based high-performance sports cars
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