HOW IT BEGAN
McLaren might have won the British Grand Prix with its carbon-chassis MP4/1 in 1981, but it knew the writing was on the wall for for the ageing Cosworth DFV in the face of the mounting turbocharged challenge.
John Barnard had no option to start the search for a turbo engine, but he didn't like what he found.
Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 29th as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 70 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Autoweek, Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
The troubled story of F1's greatest racing car Autosport recently voted the Lotus 72 the greatest grand prix car of all time. Here's the remarkable story of a legend, as told by those involved in its development from problem child to a multiple championship winner F1
Why running Le Mans without the fanfare was crucial This year's Le Mans 24 Hours was always going to standout in the history books as the one without the fans and the festival atmosphere, but running it in the first place was vital for both the present and the future WEC
How the "small things" cost another overdue win at Le Mans While Toyota has truly broken its Le Mans curse by sealing a hat-trick of wins, the bad luck and frustration is squarely stuck with the #7 crew who once again must swallow defeat WEC
Le Mans 2020: The team by team guide With the coronavirus-enforced delays and build-up to practice and qualifying over, the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours is about to begin WEC
How Ricciardo helped Renault rediscover its swagger Daniel Ricciardo is McLaren-bound next season, but leaving a Renault team which is undergoing a resurgence on and off the track. He and team principal Cyril Abiteboul tell STUART CODLING and BEN ANDERSON what's been happening behind the scenes F1
The great unheralded Imola F1 drives The return of Imola to the Formula 1 calendar for this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix provides an opportunity to assess some of its less-remembered but still noteworthy drives. Autosport highlights those which have been forgotten by history F1
What the first look at 2021's F1 aero rules tells us As well as learning a new circuit to Formula 1, several teams used their Portuguese GP practice running to try out new aero concepts ahead of rule changes for next year - providing an interesting first insight into what 2021 F1 cars will look like F1
The pre-race call that gave Hamilton the edge at Portimao Lewis Hamilton seized Formula 1's all-time win record with victory in a tricky Portuguese Grand Prix for Mercedes. He went wheel-to-wheel with Valtteri Bottas and won out, but a pre-qualifying decision was key to gaining a decisive advantage F1
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