The McRae marque was not around for very long but the impact that it made in the 1972 and 73 F5000 racing seasons in the USA, UK and Tasman (Australia and New Zealand) has certainly made it a famous brand as well as the car to beat in the classic racing of today.
Arguably the most famous McRae GM1 was the #001 chassis. While many of the fourteen chassis are being used today the question is what happened t o the first GM1, chassis #001.
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.
Chassis #001 was the top F5000 car of 1972. Graham McRae won the 1972 Tasman Series and the US F5000 championship while also racing in the UK. This was the car that put the McRae name ‘on the map’ as well into both the record and history books.
Although Lola may have had the pedigree and the longevity of winning, the McRae certainly won at the height of the F5000 era.
While McRae moved onto the #014 and #015 chassis for the 1973 US and UK racing season, Dexter Dunlop raced #001 in the 1972/73 and the 1973/74 NZ Gold Star as well as the, the ’73 and ‘74 Tasman Series
Unfortunately the #001 car was burnt out in a trailer fire. It had reportedly had a fuel leak during an event and was subsequently trailered home, the fuel vapour catching fire in the trailer. Insurance was claimed and the remains of the car scapped.
Although true ‘train spotters’ lament the passing of this special chassis, the enthusiastic F5000 spectator celebrates the cars that have been restored and are currently racing today.
