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Technology in race cars (48): McLaren M8F Can-Am - More evolution than revolution

Name: McLaren M8F 1971
Brand: McLaren

Created on June 12, 2024

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Balz Schreier

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Stephan Traber

Stefan Deck Photography

Stuart Adams

Oliver Kälke

Daniel Reinhard

Bruno von Rotz

Balz Schreier

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Stephan Traber

Stefan Deck Photography

Stuart Adams

Oliver Kälke

McLaren M8F (1971) - Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022

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McLaren M8F (1971) - aluminum chassis in perfection

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McLaren M8F (1971) - clearly visible in the side view - the widened bodywork

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McLaren M8F (1971) - "changes direction like a puma"

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McLaren M8F (1971) - Super Sports Cup guarantees a massage for the eardrums

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McLaren M8F (1971) - sound is provided from this perspective

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McLaren M8F (1971) - in the SuperSports Festival at the Bosch Hockenheim Historic 2012

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McLaren M8F (1972) - CanAm at the ADAC Eifelrennen 2012

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McLaren M8F (1972) - CanAm at the 2012 ADAC Eifelrennen

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McLaren M8F (1971) - participant in the "Total Oil International Sports Car Challenge" in the supporting program of the 2013 Australian GP

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McLaren M8F (1972) at the Hockenheim Historic 2015 - CanAm

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McLaren M8F (1972) - in the Super Sports and Can Am Challenge race - Hockenheim Historics 2014

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McLaren M8F (1971) - CanAm & Supersports - Nürburgring Classics 2018

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McLaren M8F (1972) - AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix 2022

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Summary

While Chaparral went from one revolution to the next, McLaren opted for measured innovation and an evolutionary development strategy for its Can-AM racing cars. Success proved McLaren right: no one won more often in those years. The M8F was a genuine series winner. This article explains the technology of the McLaren M8F and shows it in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Dosed innovation
Chassis and bodywork: continuous development
In-house optimized engine
Always wider
Successful thanks to superior handling

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Racing car construction in the sixties and seventies was characterized by a wealth of innovations and experiments. Some were immediately successful and became the new standard, others proved to be dead ends. Those who dared more could also win more, provided there were sufficient resources to allow a new concept to mature. Those who stuck to the tried and tested could still be successful for a while, but risked missing the boat afterwards. The McLaren M8F is a prime example of a third strategy: namely to further develop the tried and tested in a well-dosed manner and thus often be more successful than competitors who put something revolutionary but immature on the wheels every year.

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