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.
How Tandy joined an exclusive club of endurance legends Victory at last year's Spa 24 Hours meant Nick Tandy had completed the unofficial sextuple crown of the world's six biggest endurance races, becoming the first Briton to do so. Ahead of his fresh start with Corvette Racing, he explains how he did it GT
The ground-up refresh behind Toyota's new Le Mans challenger Toyota's new GR010 contender for the World Endurance Championship's Hypercar era has little in common with the LMP1 TS050 that preceded it. But within the confines of the scaled back new rules, its latest challenger will be no less formidable a prospect WEC
The curios kept by motorsport professionals Keeping momentos of key triumphs is par for the course for motorsport professionals, but what are the most cherished souvenirs picked up by the drivers and engineers who have seen and done it all? F1
The Porsche icon that forged sportscar racing's greatest era Porsche is returning to the top class of Le Mans with an LMDh prototype that it hopes will write its next successful chapter in sportscar racing. But it will have to go some to emulate its 956/962, a car which defines the Group C age more than any other WEC
How Tandy joined an exclusive club of endurance legends Victory at last year's Spa 24 Hours meant Nick Tandy had completed the unofficial sextuple crown of the world's six biggest endurance races, becoming the first Briton to do so. Ahead of his fresh start with Corvette Racing, he explains how he did it GT
The reluctant Lotus ace who was dropped for Clark A firm believer that motor racing was a sport for gentlemen, Innes Ireland lived a spirited life. NIGEL ROEBUCK recalls a character whose outlook ceased to fit with modern Formula 1 F1
The ground-up refresh behind Toyota's new Le Mans challenger Toyota's new GR010 contender for the World Endurance Championship's Hypercar era has little in common with the LMP1 TS050 that preceded it. But within the confines of the scaled back new rules, its latest challenger will be no less formidable a prospect WEC
What to look out for in the 2021 WRC As the 2021 World Rally Championship prepares to launch amid tight COVID-19 restrictions in Monte Carlo, here are the eight things unrelated to the pandemic that you should keep an eye on this year WRC
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