Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead
Historically,each maker has run a long-tail variant specifically for the conditions of the Le Mans course.
Any speed liability in the corners was more than compensated for by top speed capability on the Mulsanne Straight.
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Good point, sort of like the Ford GT40's of the 1960's, later versions specific to LeMans were longtails. Even the Porsche 917 went with longtails for that race to stay competitive.
Here is what I'm thinking now that Aerohead reminded me of the historic aspect, McLaren longtail is a nod to this history, and it includes one of their own in the mid and late-1980's
https://cars.mclaren.com/featured-ar...s-le-mans.html
Quote:
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Our famous win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 was unprecedented: not only was the McLaren F1 GTR essentially a road car competing against purpose-built prototype racers, it was also the first entry by McLaren in one of the toughest endurance races in the world. Against all the odds, McLaren took the chequered flag, finishing 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th. We remain the only manufacturer to win the race at the first attempt.
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Notice the tail got longer from 1995 to 1997 in image attached.
Image link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/McLaren-F1-...-/254052100347
Oct 2018
https://www.hotcars.com/mclaren-reveals-speedtail/
Quote:
A released teaser image shows a car that certainly seems to take from McLaren’s “longtail” heritage, showing an engine panel that seems to flow into a rear-fascia that seems extended beyond the normal bounds of a McLaren.
This would be the third vehicle after the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail to receive a similar design, with the 600LT and 675LT Super Series cars being the other two.
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Read under "1997" for aerodynamic race stories.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_F1_GTR