The Legendary F1 GTR There’s no denying that many consider the McLaren F1 to be the greatest hypercar that ever existed. Launched in the 90s, it was the fastest car in the world, topping out at 240mph. It was also one of the most advanced, with a gold engine cover and a 1.1-tonne body constructed mostly of carbon fibre. Small wonder it's worth over $21 million. But ultimately, it was the way it drove that made this car so loved. It was powered by a 618-horsepower naturally-aspirated BMW V12, sending all of its power to the rear wheels via a slick 6-speed manual gearbox. And best of all, you sat slap bang in the middle for that racing car sensation. And we have Gordon Murray to thank for that. Initially, Murray didn’t want to make a homologated racing variant of the F1, but with the BPR Global GT series beginning in 1994, which saw modified race variants of the F40 and 911 Turbo featured, he decided to go ahead with the project. Using an unused F1 chassis, the team created an all-new body with an adjustable fixed wing, a stripped-out interior and fitted an air-restrictor to the V12 that reduced the power to 592 horsepower. The final creation was the F1 GTR, and it made its debut at the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1995. In fact, F1 GTR #59, run by Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing, took the overall win, and of the top 5 victors that year, four were F1 GTRs. In fact, within its racing career, the F1 GTR took home an astonishing 38 victories of all the races it entered. It was truly unbeatable and proved that McLaren and Gordon Murray had created a true masterpiece. Read More Lanzante Celebrates 30 Years Since McLaren F1 GTR's Le Mans Victory with a Special Hypercar S1 LM’s Design – The F1 GTR Reimagined Unveiled in 2025 at the Monterrey Car Show, the Gordon Murray S1 LM is essentially the 30th anniversary celebration of this victory and race dominance. Only five will ever be built, mirroring the original production of the F1 LM, a road-going variant of the GTR, and they’ve all been sold to one collector. The whole design was meant to be an homage to the F1 GTR. From the roof-mounted air scoop to the bridge wing in the front clam, Lozenge-shaped vents, five-spoke wheels, and sharp side intakes at the front combined with a dual-plane fixed wing, a front splitter, circular taillights with neon sunset slats, and an Inconel quad-exhaust setup, this is a car that evidently screams homage and truly pays it off as best as it can. But where the exterior is all show, the interior is about as well-equipped as a North Korean Hut. But that being said it is very special. The iconic F1 three-seat layout is present, the seats themselves are tartan-trimmed, there’s a wooden gear shifter, and even ear defenders for passengers who can’t handle the unrefinement and noise. Lightweight construction is evident throughout, with only the finest materials used to create what GMSV calls “engineering art.” Performance – Raw and Old School The body of the S1 LM is made entirely of carbon fibre, which makes it incredibly light. GMSV won’t quote an official weight figure, but around under 1.2 tonnes sounds about accurate. Beneath that body lies a bespoke naturally aspirated 4.3L V12 that started out being used in the T.50 but now features a bigger bore, precision tuning and larger internals. The result is over 700 brake horsepower and a redline of 12,000rpm. Whilst GMSV won’t quote the 0-62mph or the top speed, there’s no denying this will be a blisteringly fast car. Probably not as fast as today’s average supercar, but that’s missing the point. Most modern supercars are twin-turbo hybrids featuring clever aerodynamics, 8-speed dual-clutch transmissions, and all-wheel drive. This is just rear-wheel drive, has a high-revving V12 with no hybrid assist and sends all of its power via a 6-speed manual. That makes this car quite the handful. Despite the aero-assistance from the rear wing and the front splitter, and stiffer suspension as standard, this is a car that will light up its rears quicker and spin out quicker than you can say, “holy hell.” You don’t just sit back in the S1, you concentrate, you keep awake, you drive it. As a result, it’s exciting, it’s alive, it’s real, something a lot of modern supercars just aren’t. Why the S1 matters in 2025 Now, GMSV hasn’t quoted an official price tag, but expects it to be around $5 million. Sounds like a lot, but then consider that an actual F1 GTR will set you back as little as $31 million. But ultimately, money is meaningless because no car is built quite like this. You will never find something like this coming from a mainstream manufacturer like Ferrari, McLaren or Lamborghini. Because what you’re buying into is more than just a modernised, probably better value remodel of the F1 GTR. What you’re buying into is the purest, most raw and real car in almost decades. A car that captures the spirit of the F1 GTR and delivers it onto the road in the most thrilling way possible. And really, you can’t put a price on that thrill. The S1 is truly one in a million. Source: Top Gear
