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McLaren M7A

McLaren M7A
Hulme68.jpg
Category Formula One
Constructor McLaren
Designer(s) Robin Herd
Gordon Coppuck
Predecessor McLaren M5A
Successor McLaren M9A / McLaren M14A
Technical specifications
Chassis Aluminium alloy and magnesium alloy monocoque
Suspension (front) Upper and lower top links, radius arms and outboard coilover springs and dampers
Suspension (rear) Lateral top links, twin radius arms, reversed wishbones and outboard coilover springs and dampers
Engine Ford-Cosworth DFV 2993cc V8 naturally aspirated Mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission Hewland DG300 5-speed manual
Fuel Shell (McLaren)
Gulf (Anglo)
Tyres Goodyear (McLaren)
Dunlop (Anglo)
Competition history
Notable entrants Bruce McLaren Motor Racing,
Anglo American Racers
Notable drivers New Zealand Bruce McLaren
New Zealand Denny Hulme
United States Dan Gurney (Anglo)
Debut 1968 Spanish Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F.Laps
22 4 0 0
Constructors' Championships 0 (Best: 2nd - 1968)
Drivers' Championships 0

The McLaren M7A and its M7B, M7C and M7D variants were Formula One racing cars, built by McLaren and used in the world championship between 1968 and 1971. After two relatively unsuccessful years of Formula One competition, the M7A was used to score McLaren's first win at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix.

Designed by Robin Herd and Gordon Coppuck, the M7A was the first McLaren to be powered by the Cosworth DFV engine, which went on to be used by the team until 1983. The M7B had outboard fuel tanks and the M7C a modified chassis, whilst the M7D was powered by an Alfa-Romeo engine.

The M7A made its Grand Prix debut at the second race of the 1968 world championship. After its victory in Belgium, it took another two wins that year, helping to place McLaren second in the constructors' championship.

Bruce McLaren Motor Racing was founded in 1963;Bruce McLaren was a factory driver for the Cooper motor racing team which competed in Formula One, the highest level of international single-seater competition. Since 1966, McLaren and his team had been building and racing their own Formula One cars. Their first two seasons had been relatively unsuccessful, with six points scored (out of a potential 180) and a best result of fourth. The lack of a suitable engine caused problems: the 1966 M2B car's Ford and Serinisimma V8 engines both lacked power and the 1967 M5A's British Racing Motors V12 did not arrive until mid-season.

In 1967 Cosworth debuted their DFV engine which was supplied exclusively to the Lotus team. It was immediately successful, winning its first race, and for 1968 it became available for purchase by any manufacturer. McLaren bought five DFV engines at a cost of 7,500 pounds sterling each. Designer Robin Herd was recruited to the team in 1965 before which he had been an aerospace engineer at the National Gas Turbine Establishment (NGTE) where he worked on the Concorde project. His assistant Gordon Coppuck was another ex-NGTE employee. Herd began the design of the M7A towards the end of 1967 but left to join Cosworth before its completion, leaving Coppuck and Bruce McLaren to complete the work.


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