2015 Mclaren 650s on 2040-cars

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This never-registered 1997 McLaren F1 is for sale, if you have the cash

As many of you readers may know, when it comes to Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, they're always worth more over time if they remain in their protective packaging – especially rare or unusual models. Clearly the person that ordered this 1997 McLaren F1 had that mindset, and we wouldn't be surprised if the same principle will apply to this car. This 1997 McLaren F1, previously reported on by Autoweek and being sold by U.K. dealer Tom Hartley Jnr, is remarkable because it has just 148 miles on the odometer, which the dealer claims is the lowest of any F1 in the world. Apparently the owner didn't even register the car for driving on the road. Not only that, but the car is basically in the condition it was in when it left from the factory. Everything on it is well-preserved because nothing has really been used, and everything is still carefully wrapped up in its protective packaging. The dashboard, floors and seats are all lovingly (obsessively?) taped up in foam and plastic. The floor mats are still in their plastic wrap, never having been used. The same goes for the car's fitted luggage and specially ordered F1 LM-style exhaust and F1 GTR-style suede removable steering wheel. Of course other trinkets remain with the car, too, but have since lost their protective trappings. The car comes with the matching Tag Heuer watch with the car's serial number on it, the complete tool cabinet, on-board tool roll and build book. The car was built for a buyer in Japan. Amusingly, this car is listed as a "right-hand drive" model for that market, which is irrelevant considering the car's center driver's seat. One other custom touch to the car besides the exhaust and steering wheel is the carbon fiber seat with yellow center accents. Tom Hartley Jnr does not have a price listed for this F1. We're willing to bet that the dealer will be expecting some extraordinary offers, though. Recently, the first McLaren F1 imported to the U.S. went for the whopping cost of over $15 million. That car was likely boosted by provenance and the inclusion of unique U.S. homologation parts, but it also had seen plenty of use with an odometer that had clicked over 9,600 miles. Though this yellow model doesn't have special history like that one, the fact that it's effectively a new car as delivered from the factory should make it extremely valuable. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

McLaren 720S GT3 race car shown off in renderings

Just as McLaren 650S had its racing version, the 650S GT3, its 720S successor will be joined by a 720S GT3. McLaren announced the new race car and provided renderings of the finished product. Compared to the road car, the 720S GT3 will have a much larger front grille along with vents in the top of the hood and front fenders. At the back, the rear grille will also expand, and the dual exhaust outlets will migrate to the car's center. Naturally, the race car will have all manner of canards, wings and diffusers to aid aerodynamics, too. As for the mechanicals, McLaren didn't reveal too much. It will have a race-prepped version of McLaren's twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. It's connected to a six-speed sequential transmission and powers the rear wheels. The body and chassis are made with liberal amounts of carbon fiber, and it has an adjustable suspension. The car will make its racing debut in 2019, and will be available through select McLaren dealers. In North America, those include dealers in Dallas, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, Newport Beach, Calif., and Scottsdale, Ariz. McLaren also announced some new racing programs, the most interesting of which is the Pure McLaren-GT one-make race series. It will take place at European race tracks and is open to owners of McLarens with International D driving licenses. Those owners don't need race cars, either, as McLaren provides the cars, maintenance and prep work. The series starts in 2018. The other program McLaren announced was a driver development program to help advance young drivers in their racing careers. The company signed on four drivers to race in GT4 events. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Motorsports McLaren Coupe Racing Vehicles mclaren 650s mclaren 720s mclaren 650s gt3

UPDATE: Formula 1 Halo protector surely saved a life at Belgian Grand Prix

The hotly-debated F1 halo cockpit protection structure got much attention over the weekend, as the one mounted on Charles Leclerc's Sauber appears to have successfully deflected Fernando Alonso's McLaren from hitting Leclerc on a first-lap incident at the Belgian Grand Prix. The scrapes on the Sauber's halo work well to convert former disbelievers into supporting the structure. There is a real chance Leclerc could have been seriously hurt or killed in the crash, but as it happened, the incident only meant the end of the race for Leclerc, not a season, career or life. The image tweeted by the official F1 account speaks volumes: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Later, F1 tweeted this pretty wild 360-degree video from Leclerc's car: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. And as "Top Gear" presenter Chris Harris tweeted: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Back when the season began, the Mercedes-Benz F1 team announced that the halo on the Mercedes car is strong enough to bear the weight of a double-decker London bus. As well as flying debris, detached wheels — and entire flying Formula 1 cars.   This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. 2018 Belgian Grand Prix: Race Highlights Related Video: