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McLaren History: McLaren M4B
By Sam Cooper July 15 2008
McLaren's second Formula One championship challenger was shortlived, the M4B only contested in two world championship races, though it made several appearences at other events. Powered by a 2.1 Litre BRM V8, the M4B scored three points in its short life, all of them at the second championship race at Monaco.

 

General Information:

 

Constructor: Bruce McLaren Motor Racing.

Designer: Robin Herd.

Driver(s): Bruce McLaren

Debut: Race of champions March 1967.

Points: 3

Championship Position: 10th

Technical Specifications:

Chassis: 20swg aluminium alloy monocoque, steel bulkheads.

Front Suspension: Single top link and radius arm, lower wishbown, outboard coil spring/damper, anti-roll bar

Rear Suspension: reverse lower wishbone, top link, twin radius rods outboard coil spring/damper, anti roll bar

Engine(s):

BRM 2.1 Litre V8

Transmission: Hewland FT200 5 Speed

Tyres: Goodyear

 

Debuting at the race of champions in 1967, the McLaren M4B was an improved version of the M4A formula two car, though the M4B featured a much larger engine, a 2070 cc BRM V8, this new engine powered the only M4B made to three points in the Monaco Grand Prix, where it made its debut.

 

Bruce would have finished in either second or third, but a problem with the battery caused him to pit for a new one, costing him two places, though for the first race of the year, it certainly wasn’t a bad performance.

 

Sadly for Bruce the next grand prix- the Dutch Grand Prix wasn’t the best outing for both McLaren and the M4B, with Cosworth unleashing their new DFV engine, the underpowered 2.1 V8 of

McLaren’s wasn’t able to compete with the DFV, leaving Bruce 14th in qualifying. The race went worse for McLaren after he crashed out on the second lap, writing off the M4B for good.

 

A new challenger was needed for the 1967 season, the M5A debuted at the Canadian Grand Prix that same year.

Results

Monaco

Dutch

Grid

9th

14th

Race

4th

DNF

 

Note: Shaded Square indicates points scored.

 

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