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1971 McLaren M14D news, pictures, and information | ||
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The CanAm series was astonishing and 'wide open.' There were minimal regulations on the aerodynamics, engine sizes, and vehicle mechanics. The main rules were a body that enclosed the wheels, complied with the safety requirements, and had seating for two.
The first Can-Am race was on September 1966 at St. Jovite Raceway. Famous drivers, manufacturers, and cars were entered, totaling 34 entrants. John Surtees of England entered a Chevy small-block powered V8 Lola T-70. George Follmer, Kiwis Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, and John Cannon also showed up with powerful cars ready to contend for the first ever Championship of Can Am Racing. At the end of the season it was Surtees who was crowned the champion after winning three of the races. Dan Gurney captured a victory at Bridgehampton while driving a Ford powered racer.
For 1967, McLaren entered a potent M6A racer which dominated the season with Bruce McLaren easily capturing the championship. The M6A was powered by a small-block Chevy V8 capable of producing over 520 horsepower.
McLaren continued their dominance for the next four years. Dennise Hulme won the Championship in 1968 and 1970 with Bruce McLaren securing another championship victory in 1969. Bruce McLaren was killed while testing a McLaren Can-Am car and was not around to compete during the 1970 season.
Though McLaren was a dominate force in CanAm racing, their results were poor in single seater racing in Europe. McLaren had first entered Formula 1 racing in 1966. Stiff competition from companies such as Ferrari and Lotus kept McLaren from achieving any significant success. Changing rules were difficult to keep up with and demanded a high price to introduce new technology that would be competitive.
For 1970 McLaren introduced the M14 which was basically an evolution of the M7 that had debuted during the 1968 season. Though these iteration cars had done well in CanAm racing, more was required to compete in Europe. A Cosworth DFV engine provided the power and bolted to a conventional monocoque frame. Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren drove the vehicles to a couple of second place finishes early in the season. This success was short lived as Bruce McLaren was in a fatal accident while testing the newest CanAm racer. Shortly thereafter, Denny Hulme burned his hands at Indy, making it nearly impossible for him to drive.
Even with these unfortunate set of incidents, team McLaren continued to dominate CanAm racing. In Formula 1, however, they were losing to the competitive and well-funded Ferrari and Lotus teams. At the conclusion of the season, McLaren was in fourth position in the Constructor's Championship which they shared with Brabham.
Ralph Bellamy was tasked with designing a new Formula 1 racer. The outcome of his efforts was a 'coke-bottle' shape with a fiberglass body, aluminum monocoque frame and a Cosworth DFV engine. It was dubbed the M19. For 1971 McLaren adapted a new suspension and added 'A' to the end of the name. Denny Hulme drove his M19 to a respectable sixth place finish in his M19. However, he had been leading and was just four laps shy of a victory when his rear suspension failed. Throughout the season the car would prove to have potential but various reasons often kept the team and driver from podium finishes.
The suspension never really worked as intended so for 1972 a more conventional setup was used and the name was changed to the M19C. Sponsorship changed and the team colors were no longer the bright orange.
For 1972 Denny Hulme drove his M19A to a first place Grand Prix victory in South Africa. This marked the first time McLaren had achieved this victory since 1968 when Bruce McLaren finished first at Spa in his M7A. This would be the team's only victory during the season but the McLaren team still captured third in the Constructor's Championship. This was accomplished by consistent driving and a number of podium finishes.
For 1973 the M19's were used for a short while before being replaced by the M23. The McLaren M23 F1 racer was based on the Indy racer designed by Gordon Cuppock, McLaren's chief engineer. It proved its potential by capturing 16 victories and two driver's titles.
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2006
The first Can-Am race was on September 1966 at St. Jovite Raceway. Famous drivers, manufacturers, and cars were entered, totaling 34 entrants. John Surtees of England entered a Chevy small-block powered V8 Lola T-70. George Follmer, Kiwis Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, and John Cannon also showed up with powerful cars ready to contend for the first ever Championship of Can Am Racing. At the end of the season it was Surtees who was crowned the champion after winning three of the races. Dan Gurney captured a victory at Bridgehampton while driving a Ford powered racer.
For 1967, McLaren entered a potent M6A racer which dominated the season with Bruce McLaren easily capturing the championship. The M6A was powered by a small-block Chevy V8 capable of producing over 520 horsepower.
McLaren continued their dominance for the next four years. Dennise Hulme won the Championship in 1968 and 1970 with Bruce McLaren securing another championship victory in 1969. Bruce McLaren was killed while testing a McLaren Can-Am car and was not around to compete during the 1970 season.
Though McLaren was a dominate force in CanAm racing, their results were poor in single seater racing in Europe. McLaren had first entered Formula 1 racing in 1966. Stiff competition from companies such as Ferrari and Lotus kept McLaren from achieving any significant success. Changing rules were difficult to keep up with and demanded a high price to introduce new technology that would be competitive.
For 1970 McLaren introduced the M14 which was basically an evolution of the M7 that had debuted during the 1968 season. Though these iteration cars had done well in CanAm racing, more was required to compete in Europe. A Cosworth DFV engine provided the power and bolted to a conventional monocoque frame. Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren drove the vehicles to a couple of second place finishes early in the season. This success was short lived as Bruce McLaren was in a fatal accident while testing the newest CanAm racer. Shortly thereafter, Denny Hulme burned his hands at Indy, making it nearly impossible for him to drive.
Even with these unfortunate set of incidents, team McLaren continued to dominate CanAm racing. In Formula 1, however, they were losing to the competitive and well-funded Ferrari and Lotus teams. At the conclusion of the season, McLaren was in fourth position in the Constructor's Championship which they shared with Brabham.
Ralph Bellamy was tasked with designing a new Formula 1 racer. The outcome of his efforts was a 'coke-bottle' shape with a fiberglass body, aluminum monocoque frame and a Cosworth DFV engine. It was dubbed the M19. For 1971 McLaren adapted a new suspension and added 'A' to the end of the name. Denny Hulme drove his M19 to a respectable sixth place finish in his M19. However, he had been leading and was just four laps shy of a victory when his rear suspension failed. Throughout the season the car would prove to have potential but various reasons often kept the team and driver from podium finishes.
The suspension never really worked as intended so for 1972 a more conventional setup was used and the name was changed to the M19C. Sponsorship changed and the team colors were no longer the bright orange.
For 1972 Denny Hulme drove his M19A to a first place Grand Prix victory in South Africa. This marked the first time McLaren had achieved this victory since 1968 when Bruce McLaren finished first at Spa in his M7A. This would be the team's only victory during the season but the McLaren team still captured third in the Constructor's Championship. This was accomplished by consistent driving and a number of podium finishes.
For 1973 the M19's were used for a short while before being replaced by the M23. The McLaren M23 F1 racer was based on the Indy racer designed by Gordon Cuppock, McLaren's chief engineer. It proved its potential by capturing 16 victories and two driver's titles.
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2006
| 1970 Monaco Grand Prix: A Reversal of Fortunes | |
 | In gambling and sports there is one word that seems to be absolutely foundational to both—luck. Heading into the 1970 season Jack Brabham had had his share of luck. Jochen Rindt, on the other hand, seemed to have none of it. This would all change on the 10th of May, 1970. Jochen Rindt had come into Formula One during the mid-1960s and was certainly fast straight-away. Often one of the quickest drivers on the circuit, Rindt would find his choice of teams to be his biggest letdown as the reliab...[Read more...] |
| 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans: A Cool Head in the Face of a New Threat | |
 | Heading into the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans it had become clear Ford was intent on taking the fight to Ferrari. Ford would spare no expense to take the fight to the company it had intended to buy. Ironically, the North American Racing Team would enter a Ferrari that would include the talented Jochen Rindt to help quell the storm. It would prove to be the wall necessary to provide Ferrari its last victory at Le Mans. Ford had made his declaration of intent to remove Ferrari from its throne as th...[Read more...] |
| 1967 Can-Am Road America: The Beginning of the 'Bruce and Denny Show' | |
 | While Formula One will be forever considered the pinnacle of motorsport, from a period between 1966 and 1986 there existed a series that would likely be the closest to 'anything goes' as any motor racing series could truly get. Based upon the FIA Group 7 cars but allowed to showcase unlimited engine sizes and unfettered aerodynamics, the Can-Am cars would have to be considered the pinnacle of motorsport technology and power of their era. And for more than a couple of years there would be one tea...[Read more...] |
| 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans: Bewildered Bruce | |
 | The look on Bruce McLaren's face as he climbed from his GT40 would be one of stark contrast to the rest of those with the Ford team. It was clear who the winner was, and yet, confusing as well. In the midst of one of the most demonstrative and authoritative victories in Le Mans history, McLaren and his co-driver Chris Amon would find themselves the beneficiaries of a saga that upset the team management at Ford as much as Ferrari's presence. It was an all-out effort. Tremendous amounts of capi...[Read more...] |
| 1968 Belgian Grand Prix: A First for McLaren | |
 | McLaren and Formula One are truly synonymous. Over the course of its history, McLaren has completed 714 races and have garnered no less than 178 victories. But while McLaren and victory in Formula One are an almost certainty, the very first would be anything but a complete surprise. In December of 1959, Jack Brabham would be leading the way in his Cooper T51 with Bruce McLaren following along not all that far behind. The final lap of the United States Grand Prix held at Sebring, Florida has j...[Read more...] |
 1971
McLaren
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| McLaren M12B |
| McLaren M19A |
| McLaren M8E |
| McLaren M8E/D |
| McLaren M8F |
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Related Drivers
Andrea Lodovico de Adamich Giovanni Giuseppe Gilberto 'Nanni' Galli
Peter Kenneth Gethin
Daniel Sexton Gurney
Denis Clive 'Denny' Hulme Bruce Leslie McLarenRelated Teams
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 1971 Formula One Season
| Race | Circuit | Date | Winning Driver | Constructor |
 South African Grand Prix | Kyalami | Mar 1971 | Mario Gabriele Andretti | Ferrari |
 Spanish Grand Prix | Montjuïc | Apr 1971 | Sir John Young Stewart | Tyrrell |
 Monaco Grand Prix | Monaco | May 1971 | Sir John Young Stewart | Tyrrell |
 Dutch Grand Prix | Zandvoort | Jun 1971 |  Jacques Bernard 'Jacky' Ickx | Ferrari |
 French Grand Prix | Paul Ricard | Jul 1971 | Sir John Young Stewart | Tyrrell |
| British Grand Prix | Silverstone | Jul 1971 | Sir John Young Stewart | Tyrrell |
 German Grand Prix | Nürburgring | Aug 1971 | Sir John Young Stewart | Tyrrell |
 Austrian Grand Prix | Osterreichring | Aug 1971 |  Joseph Siffert | BRM |
| Italian Grand Prix | Monza | Sep 1971 | Peter Kenneth Gethin | BRM |
 Canadian Grand Prix | Mosport | Sep 1971 | Sir John Young Stewart | Tyrrell |
United States Grand Prix  | Watkins Glen | Oct 1971 | Albert François Cevert Goldenberg | Tyrrell |
| F1 M14 | M19C M1B | M23 M26 | M6 M8 | MP4-12C |
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