1987 McLaren MP4/3 Navigation



Monoposto
Chassis #: MP4/3/1
To build the car the team would need to be competitive, Dennis would turn to John Barnard to design the car that could make up the performance difference. Turning to a new construction material known as carbon fiber, Barnard would end up producing a chassis that was incredibly light but also very rigid. Called the MP4/1, the new car with the Cosworth DFV normally-aspirated engine would go on to score four victories in 1982 and would follow it up with a single victory in 1983.
Regulations would play an integral part in the new car's design. A limit of 195 liters of fuel meant Barnard would be able to design a car that was much more low-slung than any of the previous models. The sleeker exterior shape of the car would lay the groundwork for one of the most famous McLarens ever to be produced. But as for the MP4/3, the same TAG Porsche 1.5-liter engine, twin-turbo engine would be fitted underneath the carbon-fiber chassis.
But even with the low-slung, sleeker styling and the updated TAG Porsche engine, the MP4/3 would have a hard act to follow. But in its one year of competition, the car would still hold its own. The car would earn Alain Prost three victories. The most important of these three would be the win at Portugal, which gave him more career victories than Jackie Stewart, the then record-holder for career victories.
While considered a let-down from its predecessor, the MP4/3 would still earn McLaren 2nd place in the Constructors' Championship. Unfortunately, Prost would go from two-straight World Championships to finishing 4th in the standings. This was to be the end of an incredible partnership. The MP4/3 would bring to an end an incredible chapter in McLaren's history and would setup McLaren's most successful chassis of all time.Offered at this year's Gooding and Company auction at Amelia Island in Florida would be one of just six MP4/3s designed and built by McLaren International. Chassis MP4/3/1 would serve as a spare car throughout the majority of the 1987 season. However, it would not go silently into the night. The chassis would have its opportunity to take to the track in an actual race. In August of 1987, at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Osterreichring, Stefan Johansson would end up striking a deer with chassis MP4/3/2. The damage caused by the deer would be severe enough that the car could not take part in the rest of practice, qualifying or the race. Therefore, Johansson would turn to MP4/3/1.
Johansson would end up qualifying the car 14th on the grid. Considering the car had been used as spare parts throughout the year, during the race, the car would perform well. Had it been in the hands of Prost it may have done even better. But as it were, MP4/3/1 would carry Johansson home to a 7th-place finish, just outside the points.
'Lot No. 52: 1987 McLaren MP4/3 Formula 1', (http://www.goodingco.com/car/1987-mclaren-mp43-formula-1). Gooding and Company. http://www.goodingco.com/car/1987-mclaren-mp43-formula-1. Retrieved 12 March 2012.'McLaren MP4/2 TAG-Porsche', (http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/339/McLaren-MP4-2-TAG-Porsche.html). Ultimatecarpage.com: Powered by Knowledge, Driven by Passion. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/339/McLaren-MP4-2-TAG-Porsche.html. Retrieved 12 March 2012.Wikipedia contributors, 'McLaren MP4/3', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 February 2012, 18:14 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McLaren_MP4/3&oldid=477043046 accessed 12 March 2012Wikipedia contributors, 'McLaren MP4/2', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 21 January 2012, 04:56 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McLaren_MP4/2&oldid=472381190 accessed 12 March 2012By Jeremy McMullen
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