Driving the incredible McLaren GTR trio: F1, P1 and Senna | Henry Catchpole - The Driver’s Seat

Driving one McLaren GTR would make for an amazing day. Getting to drive all three is nigh-on unbelievable. Only the F1, the P1 and the Senna have ever had the GTR treatment in McLaren’s history. Even fewer have been converted to drive on the road as well as the racetrack, but all three in this film have been through Lanzante’s workshop, meaning they can mingle with regular traffic. With matching liveries and a couple of Long Tails, it makes for quite the sight.

In this latest episode of The Driver’s Seat, Henry Catchpole tells the GTR story with the help of Ray Bellm, the man who started it all. We delve into how the McLaren F1 road car became a race car that won Le Mans at the first attempt in 1995. What bargain did Ron Dennis make? How did J.J. Lehto get the best from the GTR? How did Bellm end up with two F1s in La Sarthe in 1997? It’s a fascinating tale.

Jump forward 20 years and you have the modern McLaren GTRs, here painted in tribute to the F1’s Gulf Davidoff livery. There are other nods to the older car inside each one as well, but the P1 and Senna both bring their own characters to the party too. With 1080bhp the P1 is insanely fast (even after the fury of the short-geared, sequential shift F1) and arguably the most fluidly beautiful of the trio. Meanwhile, the Senna GTR has a modern race car feel to it and for the reason behind that you need to look at the car which was unveiled at the Geneva Motorshow in 2018…

After driving around the old Top Gear test track for the day, Dean Lanzante then sat down with us to explain the reasons for and the work that goes into road-converting a GTR. There are legislative, heritage and comfort tightropes to be walked to greater and lesser degrees with all three. But the experience of driving a GTR on the road is worth the effort. Just remember to shift all the way down the F1’s sequential ‘box before you come to a stop!

#thedriversseat #henrycatchpole #neverstopdriving #mclarengtr #mclarenF1

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[HenryCatchpole]

Really hope you all enjoy this. A massive thank you to all those involved in bringing it together - particularly Lanzante and Ray. As an aside, I couldn’t quite believe it when Ray said that his original F1 was chassis 46 - the same car that we had together with the T.50 earlier this year.

[PaulineNewton-zd]

Ray and I had the good fortune to meet at the BRDC clubhouse a few years back. I've met a number of racing drivers in my time. He appeared like a really lovely person, one of the few people I've met.

[SmallBlogV]

Henry Catchpole at the TopGear Test Track just makes me mull over what could've been...

[certifiedbidry]

Wow wow, catchpoles v12 videos are mental and a delight for the eyes and ears

[cookedit]

That Davidoff/Gulf livery on the GTR Longtail is my absolute favorite looking race car. Perfection improved upon. 11/10!

[PartapBrothers]

Henry how do you manage to replicate genius over and over again ?

To see the GTR trio with you at the helm...at the Top gear test track! Just wow. Like an alternate universe.

This is perfection! Video of the year

[Satori-Automotive]

i see Mclaren F1 and i click the video

my favorite street car of all time

[woutercornet]

6:44 great to see the track again. God I miss top gear

[Anton_Chigurh]

Chassis 028R. What an absolute honor it is to drive that beast. The Gulf Davidoff livery is in my top 2 favorite liveries of all time. I can only imagine driving 028R. Man, oh man

[leviddesign]

The F1 is such a pretty car. Pure classic design.

[robin_marriott]

I’ve met a few racing drivers in my time and was lucky enough to meet Ray at the BRDC clubhouse a good few years ago. One of very few I’ve met who seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

[OriginalAbsolute]

Henry likes cars like us, and is just so normal. We love it; dudes all class

[Andynath]

Henry Catchpole has sold his soul to the devil to get to drive so many F1s! 😂

[Djoki]

That F1 GTR is drop dead gorgeous.
I bet its even more beautiful in person.

[davebarron]

Long time Hagerty customer and drivers club member here. Do you ever pinch yourself to be sure you are not dreaming in situations like this? Well done!

[AliasHSW]

The F1 is the most exciting and gorgeous car of the last 50 years. A perfect blend of aggression and civility in its design.

[Jadawin-kkfz]

I don't know, what i enjoyed more. The sounds? The background story? Henrys excitement? The glorious footage? Well done, Henry and team, this episode was magnificent.

[veialyyad]

It's always hagerty at it again peak content

[oscsun]

Holy ****!! Can't believe how one goes about pulling off a film like this 🤯 Chapeau!

[Notiamfaith]

Henry you beyond lucky.

Such a raw, rare experience that almost everyone on the planet will never understand how it feels.

The sound is epic, but to experience it first hand must have been 10/10!