1996 BPR Global GT Championship Marlboro McLaren F1 GTR-LM
This is a one-of-a-kind replica (no manufacturer had duplicated the original car) of a rarely seen McLaren F-1 GTR-LM. In fact, the original only appeared in one race in the entire 1996 BPR GT championships, at the Zhuhai race in China. What caught my attention was the classic Marlboro colours; one of the most recognized race car paint schemes of all time. Unfortunately we will not see it in this year's Formula 1 series, but it's colours have been replicated on a Marlboro sponsored Porsche GT1 in 1997. I might just do a Marlboro Porsche, just to keep the tradition alive.
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The body I used was a HPI McLaren F-1 GTR, both cheap, reasonably durable (these pictures were taken the day after I took it to the races!), and detailed. I used the headlight and window trims supplied by HPI, and scoured up the rest myself. The Marlboro stickers are die-cut, I bought them from a motorcycle supply store. Other decals come from Frewer's touring car sponsor sheet, and Kyosho's Old Spice Opel Calibra decal sheet. I painted the car luminous orange first, before laying on the white backing coat. Somehow, the flourescent colour does not turn out well to the camera, but in bright sunshine, and at dusk, the car is very eye catching (ideal for picking out your car among 9 other competitors out on the track). The number 7 was the mains position that I qualified in.