The McLaren M19A is a Formula One

racing car Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organise ...

built and run by

McLaren McLaren Racing Limited is a British motor racing team based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. McLaren is best known as a Formula One constructor, the second oldest active team, and the second most successful Formul ...

in three World Championship seasons between

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses ( February 25, July 22 and August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 10, and August 6). The world population increased by 2.1% this year, the highest increase in history. Events Ja ...

and

1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, U.S. ...

. The C version (an extension of the A car) was used in the and 1973 seasons.

Design

With Gordon Coppuck preoccupied by designing the McLaren M16 Indianapolis 500 car, the task of designing an all-new Formula 1 car for 1971 fell on Ralph Bellamy. The result was a distinctive car that was nicknamed "The Alligator Car". The pear-shaped cockpit sides that led to this nickname were a result of placing two of the car's three fuel tanks alongside the driver. The M19A used inboard coilover shocks for the front and rear suspension, which were actuated through a swinging link that gave an increasing spring rate as the springs were compressed. This linkage was dropped in favor of a conventional system with the M19C. The M19A and M19C both used a mid-mounted Cosworth DFV V8 and Hewland 5-speed manual gearbox.

Competition history

1971

The McLaren M19A debuted at the

1971 South African Grand Prix The 1971 South African Grand Prix, formally the Fifth AA Grand Prix of South Africa (Afrikaans: ''Vyfde AA Suid-Afrikaanse Grand Prix''), was a Formula One motor race held at Kyalami Circuit on 6 March 1971. It was race 1 of 11 in both the 197 ...

with

1967 Events January * January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair. * January 5 ** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establishing full consular and ...

world champion Denny Hulme driving. Peter Gethin continued driving a McLaren M14A until a second M19A was built for the

Dutch Grand Prix The Dutch Grand Prix ( nl, Grote Prijs van Nederland) is a Formula One motor racing event held at Circuit Zandvoort, North Holland, the Netherlands, from 1950 to 1985 and from 2021 onwards. It was a part of the World Championship from 1952, ...

. Jackie Oliver took over driving the second McLaren for the

Austrian Grand Prix The Austrian Grand Prix (german: Großer Preis von Österreich) is a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile sanctioned motor racing event that was held in , –, –, and then returned to the Formula One calendar in . History The A ...

after Gethin left to drive for

BRM British Racing Motors (BRM) was a British Formula One motor racing team. Founded in 1945 and based in the market town of Bourne in Lincolnshire, it participated from 1951 to 1977, competing in 197 grands prix and winning seventeen. BRM wo ...

. Hulme scored the M19's first fastest lap at the Canadian Grand Prix, but a string of reliability issues had left McLaren placing only sixth in the Constructor's Championship. The second car was sponsored by Penske-White Racing for the Canadian Grand Prix and United States Grand Prix.

Mark Donohue Mark Neary Donohue Jr. (March 18, 1937 – August 19, 1975), nicknamed "Captain Nice," and later "Dark Monohue," was an American race car driver and engineer known for his ability to set up his own race car as well as driving it to victories. D ...

made his Formula 1 debut in that car at Canada, finishing third. David Hobbs drove the car for the United States Grand Prix.

1972

McLaren gained a new sponsor for the

1972 Formula One season The 1972 Formula One season was the 26th season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 23rd World Championship of Drivers, the 15th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and numerous non-championship Formula One races. The World ...

, the cosmetics and perfume company

Yardley of London Yardley of London (usually referred to simply as Yardley or Yardleys) is a British personal care brand and one of the oldest firms in the world to specialise in cosmetics, fragrances and related toiletries, toiletry products. Established in 1770, ...

. The cars were repainted white to reflect this new sponsorship, with only the side fuel tanks continuing to be painted in the traditional McLaren orange. The season began on a high note with Denny Hulme finishing the Argentine Grand Prix in second place, the first podium finish for a McLaren M19. Peter Revson made his McLaren debut in the second car. The next race proved even better, with both drivers on the podium and Hulme taking both his and McLaren's first win since the

1969 Mexican Grand Prix The 1969 Gran Premio de Mexico (Mexican Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held at the Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhuca, Mexico City on October 19, 1969, two weeks after the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. It was race 11 of 11 ...

. The modified M19C made its debut at Monaco in the hands of Denny Hulme, with Revson and Brian Redman continuing to use the M19A until the

. Revson claimed pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix, McLaren's first ever pole position. Increased reliability over 1971 and a string of podium finishes secured third place in the 1972 Constructor's Championship for McLaren. Future world champion Jody Scheckter made his Formula 1 debut in a M19A at the United States Grand Prix.

1973

McLaren began the

1973 Formula One season The 1973 Formula One season was the 27th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1973 World Championship of Drivers and the 1973 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers, which were contested concurrently over a fifteen-race seriesRe ...

with both Denny Hulme and Peter Revson continuing to drive the M19C. Revson switched to a M19A for the

Brazilian Grand Prix The Brazilian Grand Prix ( pt, Grande Prêmio do Brasil), currently held under the name São Paulo Grand Prix ( pt, Grande Prêmio de São Paulo), is a Formula One championship race which is currently held at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace ...

, then Hulme was given the new McLaren M23 for the South African Grand Prix. Hulme qualified the M23 on pole and finished fifth, with Revson and Jody Scheckter finishing in second and ninth place in the two M19C's, giving the M19 its 13th and final podium finish. This race would prove to be the last race for a McLaren M19.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(

key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...

) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) ** 36 points in scored using the McLaren M23

References

External links

{{F1 cars 1973 McLaren Formula One cars 1971 Formula One season cars 1972 Formula One season cars 1973 Formula One season cars