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If there was any dispute about the McLaren F1 GT's performance credentials, designer Gordon Murray has settled the matter with this street-legal LM evolution model, which erupts from standstill to 100 mph in less than five seconds. The initials stand for Le Mans (of course), a celebration of the marque's first-time victory in the 24 Hours last June with the competition-bred GTR variant; first, third, fourth, and fifth overall, and the top four places in the Grand Touring category, went to a car that raced for the first time only four months previous! After two seasons without a victory in Grand Prix racing, that was at least some consolation for Ron Dennis and his colleagues at McLaren.

The LM upgrade kit improves the McLaren's pedigree still further. Subtly revised bodywork and a more efficient rear wing (both will also be used on upgraded GTRs this season) increase maximum downforce by 50 percent, making it faster on dry pavement and less skittish in the rain. It's also 60 kilograms (132 pounds) lighter than the standard F1 road model and has better ventilation and cooling, too. With the mandatory (for racing) air restrictors removed, output of the 6.1-liter V-12 tucked amidships rockets skyward to 668 horsepower at 8500 rpm. Torque also increases impressively, from 479 to 520 pound-feet at 4500 rpm, so the LM is fitted with the race car's dry-sump gearbox to cope with higher demands.

The LM isn't faster than the GTR in top speed, however. While the latter has reached 231 mph, the LM model may not exceed 220 mph. "It could go faster, but I've geared it for acceleration, with a quicker shift and really close ratios to make the most of the extra rev range," says Murray.

The McLaren F1 LM costs slightly in excess of $1 million and only five will be built. These were sold within two days of the launch and are scheduled for delivery between now and June, when McLaren's customer teams will try to conquer Le Mans for the second time.

There is, however, bitter mixed with the sweet. Sales of the F1 haven't met expectations, and McLaren chief Ron Dennis recently announced production will end in 1997 with the total build not exceeding 100 cars. That's far short of the 300 discussed by McLaren and BMW at the initial stages, and it leaves the German automaker with a serious financial hole in the budget for developing its bespoke power unit. So, at the end of 1995, McLaren agreed that BMW could assume the "intellectual rights" to the V-12. More than that, BMW has stepped up support of privateer teams campaigning F1s, notably those handled by David Price Racing and GTC Gulf Motorsports, who between them won all but two of the BPR GT Cup races last season.

On a related note, the Munich company, which also owns the Rover Group, has set up a new motorsport company in England and established a co-operation agreement with McLaren Cars. In addition to helping develop BMW's new 2.0-liter "Super Touring" sedans, Gordon Murray has become heavily involved in another top-secret design project. Pundits predict that this may be nothing less than a design brief for the Mini replacement, a vital new model that BMW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder says must be as radical as the original Mini "or we'd rather not do it at all.-Michael Cotton