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McLaren M23

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McLaren M23

Emerson Fittipaldi in the McLaren M23 at the 1974 British Grand Prix.
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorMcLaren Racing
Designer(s)Gordon Coppuck
PredecessorM19C
SuccessorM26
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisAluminium monocoque.
Suspension (front)Double wishbone, with inboard coilover shock absorbers.
Suspension (rear)Double wishbone.
Axle track62 in (157 cm)
Wheelbase101 in (257 cm)
EngineFord-Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) 90° V8, naturally aspirated, mid-mounted.
TransmissionHewland FG400 5/6-speed manual gearbox.
Weight575 kg (1,268 lb)
Competition history
Notable entrantsYardley Team McLaren
Marlboro Team Texaco
Marlboro Team McLaren
Notable driversNew Zealand Denny Hulme
United States Peter Revson
West Germany Jochen Mass
United Kingdom Mike Hailwood
Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
United Kingdom James Hunt
Debut1973 South African Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
83161410
Constructors' Championships1 (1974)
Drivers' Championships2 (1974: Fittipaldi; 1976: Hunt)
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

The McLaren M23 was a Formula One racing car designed by Gordon Coppuck, with input from John Barnard, and built by the McLaren team. It was a development of the McLaren M16 Indianapolis 500 car. A Ford Cosworth DFV engine was used, which was prepared by specialist tuning company Nicholson Engines. This helped push the DFV's horsepower output to around 490 bhp.

Chassis

M23-1

The first of four McLaren M23s built for the 1973 season, this car was raced exclusively by Denny Hulme that year. He used it to win the Swedish Grand Prix and also finished on the podium at the British Grand Prix and the Race of Champions. For a select few races in 1974, M23-1 was campaigned by Mike Hailwood, with a third in the South African Grand Prix as the best result. Restored to its 1973 configuration and colors, it is today owned by an enthusiast from New Zeeland.

M23-3

First presented into service in the summer of 1973, this is the third M23 built and the one with the fewest race starts. Entrusted to Jody Scheckter, M23-3 debuted at the French Grand Prix where an accident ended the South African's race early. A fortnight later, during the British Grand Prix, the exact same happened and Scheckter did not race an M23 again until later in the year. Restored to Peter Revson's colors, the third M23 is today owned by and American historic racer.

M23-4

The final M23 completed in 1973, this cassis debuted in the hands of Jacky Ickx at the German Grand Prix, where the Belgian placed third. It was then raced by McLaren regular Peter Revson, who went on to win the Canadian Grand Prix, while also placing third in the Italian Grand Prix. Chassis M23-4 continued to serve into the 1975 season with Emerson Fittipaldi, Denny Hulme, David Hobbs and Jochen Mass all having a go. The best result in a World Championship event in 1974 came at the Swedish Grand Prix where Fittipaldi placed fourth. Restored to the car's 1974 colors and configuration, it was owned and raced for several years by Brazilian Abba Kogan. It is believed to have changed hands since then.

M23-5

Reportedly Fittipaldi's favorite M23, chasis 5 was the first new car built for his 1974 World Championship winning campaign. He used it to score wins at the Brazilian Grand Prix and Belgian Grand Prix, while he also won a non-championship event in Brazil. In addition Fittipaldi also placed M23-5 on the podium at Jarama and Zandvoort. Following an engine-related retirement int he French Grand Prix, the fifth McLaren M23 was not raced again. Chassis M23-5 was subsequently part of the hugely impressive Jacques Setton collection but now has been re-acquired by McLaren.

Competition history

It was introduced for the 1973 season, and scored pole position with Denny Hulme on its very first outing. Hulme and Peter Revson took three wins between them that season, while rookie Jody Scheckter nearly added a fourth. Scheckter was responsible for one of the biggest accidents Formula One has ever seen, at the 1973 British Grand Prix, when he spun his M23 in front of the pack. Emerson Fittipaldi joined McLaren from Lotus in 1974. His knowledge of the Lotus 72 helped McLaren develop the M23 and that season Fittipaldi gave McLaren its first drivers' and constructors' world championships, beating Ferrari, Tyrrell and Lotus.

A McLaren M23 with much of its bodywork and front wing removed, Cosworth DFV visible in the rear. Note the exposed pedals between the front wheels and minimal upper-body crash protection, very different from today's F1 cars.

Further development in 1975 – including a 6-speed gearbox, a novelty for the time – helped Fittipaldi to second in the drivers' championship behind Niki Lauda, who had the benefit of Ferrari's 312T chassis and McLaren to third in the constructors' championship, behind Ferrari and Brabham. The team experimented with different bodywork styles, including aerodynamic kickups in front of the rear wheels, different nose profiles and extended bodywork in front of the rear wheels, housing the oil coolers. Most of these changes were adopted for the M23 and its successor, the McLaren M26. At the end of 1975 Fittipaldi left the team to join his brother's Copersucar-sponsored Fittipaldi Automotive team. He was replaced by James Hunt, who went on to win a dramatic and controversial 1976 season with the final evolution M23, the M23D.

When the replacement McLaren M26 proved troublesome, Hunt and Jochen Mass relied on the M23 in the early part of the 1977 season, and even though the car was now four years old it was still competitive.

The M23 was never the most technically advanced F1 car, but sound preparation and continual development helped it win 16 Grands Prix, two drivers' and one constructors' world championships in its lifetime.

The M23 was also modified for use in Formula 5000 racing. Australian driver John McCormack drove a Leyland powered M23 to win the 1977 Australian Drivers' Championship. McCormack also put his M23 on pole for the 1978 Australian Grand Prix.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

Works team entries

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
1973 M23 Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8
G ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR NED GER AUT ITA CAN USA 58* 3rd
Denny Hulme 5 6 7 6 1 8 3 Ret 12 8 15 13 4
Peter Revson 4 Ret 5 7 1 4 9 Ret 3 1 5
Jody Scheckter Ret DNS Ret Ret
Jacky Ickx 3
1974 M23B Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8
G ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA 73 (75) 1st
Emerson Fittipaldi 10 1 7 3 1 5 4 3 Ret 2 Ret Ret 2 1 4
Denny Hulme 1 12 9 6 6 Ret Ret Ret 6 7 DSQ 2 6 6 Ret
Mike Hailwood 4 5 3 9 7 Ret Ret 4 7 Ret 15
David Hobbs 7 9
Jochen Mass 16 7
1975 M23C Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8
G ARG BRA RSA ESP MON BEL SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA USA 53 3rd
Emerson Fittipaldi 1 2 Ret DNS 2 7 8 Ret 4 1 Ret 9 2 2
Jochen Mass 14 3 6 1 6 Ret Ret Ret 3 7 Ret 4 Ret 3
1976 M23D Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8
G BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA JPN 74 (75) 2nd
James Hunt Ret 2 Ret 1 Ret Ret 5 1 DSQ 1 4 1 Ret 1 1 3
Jochen Mass 6 3 5 Ret 6 5 11 15 Ret 3 7 Ret 5 4 Ret
1977 M23E Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8
G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN 60* 3rd
James Hunt Ret 2 4 7 Ret
Jochen Mass Ret Ret 5 Ret 4 4 Ret 2 9
Gilles Villeneuve 11
Bruno Giacomelli Ret

* 12 points in 1973 scored using the M19A and M19C
* 39 points in 1977 scored using the M26

Non-works entries

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine Tyres Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
1974 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA
Scribante Lucky Strike Racing M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Dave Charlton 19
1975 ARG BRA RSA ESP MON BEL SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA USA
Lucky Strike Racing M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Dave Charlton 14
1977 ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN
Iberia Airlines M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Emilio de Villota 13 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 17 DNQ
Chesterfield Racing M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Brett Lunger DNS 11 DNQ 13 Ret 10 9 Ret 10 11
1978 ARG BRA RSA USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN
Liggett Group/
B&S Fabrications
M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Brett Lunger 13 Ret 11 DNQ
Nelson Piquet Ret Ret 9
Centro Aseguredor F1 M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Emilio de Villota DNQ
Melchester Racing M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G Tony Trimmer DNQ

References

  • F1 Racing magazine, January 2001
  • Motor Sport (magazine), August 2002
  1. ^ "McLaren M23 Cosworth". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 25 May 2010.