McRae GM1 - Cars of the MSC Tasman Revival F5000 Series*
The reality is that the McRae brand of F5000 only had a brief foray in the F5000 class but what an impact it had. Arguably the fastest car in its day the McRae is a well respected and sought after marque and is still the car to beat in any F5000 field.
Built and raced by legendary Kiwi Graham McRae the McRae GM1 is the best know of the cars that he produced. Initially known as the Leda LT27 it became known as the McRae GM1 after a business buy out by McRae and John Heynes in 1972. Fourteen GM1’s were produced.
Currently racing the 015 (number thirteen was not designated to a chassis) is Christchurch driver Chris Hyde. Owned by Stuart Lush it has the Iberia Airlines sponsorship on it which was originally featured in the 1973 Rothmans European Championship which McRae competed.
These are among the most sought after F5000 cars and it has now been possible to trace the fate of all 14 GM1s built.
Often people don’t realize that Graham McRae raced in both F1 and the Indianapolis 500. His single outing in F1 took place at the 1973 British Grand Prix at Silverstone where he retired on the first lap.
Also in that year he competed in the 57th running of the Indianapolis 500. He not only qualified but also finished sixteenth and gained rookie of the year. The winner was Gordon Johncock after rain halted the race after 133 laps. Incidentally it took three days to complete the race due to rain and a major incident.
Always the benchmark for other cars to beat this McRae in the hands of Chris Hyde has the potential to win the 2009/10 MSC Tasman Revival Series. Hyde first won this championship two years ago, also driving a McRae but did not compete last year.
So what made the McRae so quick? As Hyde comments, it comes down to two things: weight and chassis rigidity.
“The McRae is particularly quick because it is 100kg lighter and the chassis is more rigid. If you look at the tub (chassis) how it comes up quite high on the drivers shoulder compared with the Lola. This offers more rigidity (so it is quicker through the corners).”
The 015 is powered by a Chevolet 302 engine with Lucas McKay fuel injection developing 550 HP.
The beautifully-engineered McRae, especially Graham's prototype 001, was the top car of 1972 and one of the best of 1973, but the GM2 design lost the momentum and the McRae marque soon faded away.
*Over the 2009 Christmas and New Year break we will look at a number of cars that make up the grid of the 2009/10 MSC Tasman Revival Series
See also
- The distinctive engine tone of the McLaren M23
Ex Graeme Lawrence Lola T332 still turns heads
