McLaren MP4/3

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The McLaren MP4/3 was a Formula One car was designed under the leadership of Steve Nichols, after John Barnard quit the team in August of 1986. It was the first all-new chassis design for McLaren International since the successful MP4/2 series of cars debuted at the start of the 1984 season.

The MP4/3’s aerodynamics were completely different from the MP4/2, as the car appeared much more “low-slung”, to take advantage of the maximum fuel capacity limit of 195 liters, rather than the 220 liter limit in effect from 1984 to 1985. With addition of side-ducted radiators, the car’s basic exterior shape was all-new and sleeker than its predecessor. However, it carried over the suspension geometry and gearbox design from the MP4/2. The engine was the 3.0L TAG (Porsche) turbo motor, but with slight changes in compression and engine balancing. (Autocourse 1987-88, p.48)

Five new MP4/3 cars were molded from carbon fiber with assistance from Hercules Aerospace, since the creation of the all-new MP4/1 in 1981. The chassis numbers, 1 thorough 5, were used throughout the year, with three new cars ready for the first race in Brazil.

[edit] Chassis Log History

1: Used as a spare car at Rio, Imola, Spa, Monaco, Detroit, Paul Ricard, Silverstone, Hockenheim, Hungaroring, Monza, Estoril, Jerez, Suzuka, and Adelaide. Was only raced once, at the aborted start (1st) at Österriechring by Stefan Johansson.

2: Raced by Johansson at Rio, Imola, Spa, Monaco, Detroit, Paul Ricard, Silverstone, Hockenheim, and Hungaroring. The car was written-off in practice at Österriechring by Johansson, after a deer struck the car, and crashed.

3: Raced by Alain Prost at Rio, Imola, Spa, Monaco, Detroit, and Paul Ricard. Car modified for Johansson for race use at Österriechring. It was originally a spare car at Mexico, but then raced by Johansson, but written-off in 1st-lap accident.

4: New car for Prost to race at Silverstone, Hockenheim, Hungaroring, Österriechring, Monza, Estoril, Jerez, Suzuka, and Adelaide.

5: New car for Johansson at Monza, Estoril, Jerez, Mexico, Suzuka, and Adelaide. (Autocourse 1987-88, p.58)

A sixth car, known as the MP4/3B, was a test mule for the Honda engine that would power McLaren International’s hopes for the 1988 season. The MP4/3B never raced, but was tested until the all-new MP4/4 debuted at the start of the 1988 season.

[edit] Success

For the first time since 1983, a driver failed to win the World Championship with McLaren. Some attribute the difficulties of the 1987 season to the TAG Porsche engine, which was losing its dominance in Grand Prix racing to Honda, due to a lack of reliability. However, there were still three wins in 1987 by Alain Prost at Grand Prix of Brazil, Belgium, and Portugal. Stefan Johansson managed a few podium places, but he would be replaced for in 1988 by Ayrton Senna.

[edit] Specifications

Front suspension: Double Wishbone, pushrod

Rear suspension: Double Wishbone, pushrod

Suspension dampers: Bilstein

Wheel Diameters (front/rear): 13in/13in

Wheel Rim widths (front/rear): 11.75in/16.30in

Tires: Goodyear

Disk brakes: McLaren/SEP

Steering assembly: SEP

Radiators: Secan

Fuel Tank: ATL

Battery: Sonnenschein

Wheelbase: 111in (2794mm)

Track (front/rear): 72.5in (1841.5mm)/66.0in (1676.4mm)

Gearbox weight: 121.3lb (55kg)

Chassis tub weight: 154.3lb (70kg)

Formula weight (dry): 1190.5lb (540kg)

Fuel capacity: 42.9gal (195L)

(Autocourse 1987-88 p.230)

/ McLaren Formula One cars

1960s: M2B (1966) | M4B (1967) | M5A (1967-68) | M7A (1967-69) | M7C (1969-71) | M9A (1969) 1970s: M14A (1970-71) | M7D (1970) | M14D (1970) | M19A (1971-73) | M19C (1972-73) | M23 (1974-78) | M26 (1977-79) | M28 (1979) | M29 (1979-81) 1980s: M30 (1980) | M29F (1981) | MP4 (MP4/1) (1981) | MP4/1B (1982) | MP4/1C (E, 1983) | MP4/2 (1984) | MP4/2B (1985) | MP4/2C (1986) | MP4/3 (1987) | MP4/4 (1988) | MP4/5 (1989) 1990s: MP4/5B (1990) | MP4/6 (1991) | MP4/6B (1992) | MP4/7A (1992) | MP4/8 (1993) | MP4/9 (1994) | MP4/10 (B, C, 1995) | MP4/11 (B, 1996) | MP4-12 (1997) | MP4-13 (1998) | MP4-14 (1999) | 2000s: MP4-15 (2000) | MP4-16 (2001) | MP4-17 (2002) | MP4-17D (2003) | MP4-18 (2003) | MP4-19 (B, 2004) | MP4-20 (2005) | MP4-21 (2006)