In 1972, using the design of the M16 single-seater developed for the American IndyCar series as a starting point, Gordon Coppuck designed the McLaren M23 in collaboration with the young John Barnard, who had just joined the McLaren team, and Ray Stokoe. The car was heavily inspired by the successful Lotus 72 of the early 1970s, sharing the same design philosophy, as both used the Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine. However, the M23’s engine was prepared by Nicholson Engines, which managed to extract an impressive 490 hp from the American power unit, almost on par with Ferrari’s V12.
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| McLAREN M23 '76, James Hunt Jarama, Spanish GP 1976 |
The British single-seater had a very angular design, adhering to the aerodynamic principles of the time, featuring short, rearward side pods with radiators positioned almost alongside the engine. It had a wheelbase of 2720 mm and a weight of 601 kg. Until 1975, it used a tall air intake above the driver’s head, which, following regulation changes in 1976, was replaced by two elegant “boomerang”-shaped intakes positioned beside the upper roll bar. The rear track width was adjusted mid-season after post-race inspections at the Spanish Grand Prix found it to be slightly outside the regulations by just a few millimeters. This led to a redesign of the rear suspension layout, causing significant setup challenges. However, once the suspension issues were resolved, the M23 returned to being a competitive and reliable car, as it had been throughout its long career, racing from 1973 to 1977 under the official McLaren banner, with continuous updates in line with evolving regulations.
McLAREN M23 '76, James Hunt
Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1976
At the end of 1975, Emerson Fittipaldi left McLaren International to join his brother Wilson’s team, Fittipaldi Automotive, sponsored by Copersucar. To replace the Brazilian champion, team manager Teddy Mayer, after evaluating several experienced drivers, decided to hire the emerging British talent James Hunt from Hesketh, pairing him with German driver Jochen Mass, who was retained from the previous season. The 1976 season started with the flamboyant Hunt struggling to keep up with the dominant Ferrari 312T2 of Niki Lauda, often making errors due to his aggressive driving style. He secured only a second-place finish in South Africa and a victory in Spain, where he was disqualified and later reinstated months later, but retired in the other four races. Meanwhile, Mass was more consistent, finishing races more frequently but managing only a single third-place podium finish.
McLAREN M23 '76, Jochen Mass
Zolder, Belgian GP 1976
After another victory for Hunt in France, the season took a dramatic turn. Following Lauda's horrific accident at the Nürburgring, Hunt had a clear path to the championship and secured a series of wins, ultimately clinching the 1976 title in a dramatic and controversial season, finishing just one point ahead of Lauda. He achieved this with the latest evolution of the car. In 1977, the M23 was still used in the early races by McLaren’s two main drivers before they transitioned to the new M26. The M23 chassis was then handed over to two private teams: Iberia Airlines, which fielded Emilio de Villota, and Chesterfield Racing, which assigned a car to Brett Lunger. These teams participated in only a few races, failing to achieve notable results.
McLAREN M23 '77, Gilles Villeneuve
Silverstone, British GP 1977
During the 1977 season, a third official M23 was also raced by McLaren, making its debut in Formula 1 with Gilles Villeneuve at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and Bruno Giacomelli at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. In 1978, the M23 continued competing in the World Championship but was driven exclusively by private teams, such as Brett Lunger and Nelson Piquet for Liggett Group B&S Fabrications, Emilio de Villota for Centro Asegurador, and Tony Trimmer for Melchester Racing. In total, the M23 participated in 83 Grands Prix, securing 20 victories, four of which were in non-championship races, and winning two Drivers’ Championships: with Fittipaldi in 1974 and Hunt in 1976. It also secured McLaren’s first-ever Constructors’ Championship in 1974.
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