» Spy videos » How McLaren pioneered the carbon-fibre chassis
Mclaren
on May 2 2016 |
in Spy videos |
by Alastair Sloane |
with Comments Off
It’s 35 years since McLaren revolutionised the high-performance motoring world with the first carbon-fibre Formula One car, the MP4. Since then every McLaren car – racing or road – has been based around a carbon chassis. The MP4 debuted in 1981, when every other Formula One team was using aluminium. It won the British GP at Silverstone that year. Nikki Lauda later won two GPs in the follow-up car, the MP4B. In this video, MP4 designer John Barnard talks of the car’s beginnings with McLaren chief Ron Dennis.
Alastair Sloane has been a newspaper journalist for almost 50 years.
Has had all sorts of roles along the way, including editing two daily newspapers. Joined the NZ Herald from the Sunday Star-Times in 1996 to help launch a sports weekly. Became motoring editor of the Herald soon after, a position he held until leaving in 2012. He owns a 1968 VW Beetle. Best days at the wheel include doing part of the Land Rover Camel Trophy route in Papua New Guinea, driving a Nissan Patrol over earthquake-hit roads in Guatemala, and a Ferrari Italia 458 on Enzo’s old hill-climb road in Italy.
Related Posts
« Driver trainer makes case for child tuition behind the wheel
Volvo hides its new XC40, a small SUV joining the hordes of SUVs »