In the debut episode of Heart & Soul from The Intercooler, Dan Prosser explores a remarkable McLaren F1 GTR Longtail—a former 1997 Le Mans competitor, now fully road legal. Originally derived from the McLaren F1, the GTR evolved into the Longtail to counter rising competition, gaining extended bodywork and enhanced aerodynamics for significantly increased downforce.
Just ten Longtails were built, and even fewer have been converted for road use. This example, chassis 27R, competed in the 1997 season, including Le Mans, where it retired after a crash, but also secured notable race results elsewhere.
Its transformation for the street was far from simple. Lanzante—working with Gordon Murray Automotive—carried out an extensive £300,000 reengineering process. Modifications included increased ride height, revised suspension and aerodynamics, improved cooling, and greater steering lock for everyday usability.
Despite these changes, it remains a raw competition machine at heart, powered by a BMW-derived V12 producing around 600 horsepower. With its racing pedigree, rare configuration, and meticulous conversion, it stands as one of the most extraordinary road-legal supercars ever created.
Source: The Intercooler
