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 Peter Gethin driving the M19A, during the1971 German Grand Prix. | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | McLaren Racing | ||||||||||
| Designers | Ralph Bellamy Ray Stokoe | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | M14A | ||||||||||
| Successor | M23 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminiummonocoque. | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone. | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone. | ||||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 63.0 in (160 cm) Rear: 62.0 in (157 cm) | ||||||||||
| Wheelbase | 100 in (254 cm) | ||||||||||
| Engine | Ford-Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) 90°V8,naturally aspirated,mid-mounted. | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland DG400 5-speedmanual gearbox. | ||||||||||
| Weight | 560 kg (1,235 lb) | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Penske-White Racing YardleyTeam McLaren | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers |  Denny Hulme Peter Revson Jody Scheckter Brian Redman | ||||||||||
| Debut | 1971 South African Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. | |||||||||||
TheMcLaren M19A is aFormula Oneracing car built byMcLaren in three World Championship seasons between1971 and1973.
WithGordon Coppuck preoccupied by designing theMcLaren M16 Indianapolis 500 car, the task of designing an all-new Formula 1 car for 1971 fell on Ralph Bellamy. The result was a distinctive car that was nicknamed "The Alligator Car".[2] The pear-shaped cockpit sides that led to this nickname were a result of placing two of the car's three 15 imp gal (68 L) fuel tanks alongside the driver.[3]
The M19A used inboard coilover shocks for the front and rear suspension, which were actuated through a swinging link that gave an increasing spring rate as the springs were compressed.[3] This linkage was dropped in favor of a conventional system with the M19C.[1] The M19A and M19C both used a mid-mountedCosworth DFV V8 and Hewland 5-speed manual gearbox.
The McLaren M19A debuted at the1971 South African Grand Prix with1967 world championDenny Hulme driving.Peter Gethin continued driving aMcLaren M14A until a second M19A was built for theDutch Grand Prix.Jackie Oliver took over driving the second McLaren for theAustrian Grand Prix after Gethin left to drive forBRM. Hulme scored the M19's first fastest lap at theCanadian Grand Prix, but a string of reliability issues had left McLaren placing only sixth in the Constructor's Championship.
The second car was sponsored byPenske-White Racing for theCanadian Grand Prix andUnited States Grand Prix.Mark Donohue made his Formula 1 debut in that car at Canada, finishing third. David Hobbs drove the car for the United States Grand Prix.
McLaren gained a new sponsor for the1972 Formula One season, the cosmetics and perfume companyYardley of London. The cars were repainted white to reflect this new sponsorship, with only the side fuel tanks continuing to be painted in the traditional McLaren orange.
The season began on a high note with Denny Hulme finishing theArgentine Grand Prix in second place, the first podium finish for a McLaren M19.Peter Revson made his McLaren debut in the second car. The next race proved even better, with both drivers on the podium and Hulme taking both his and McLaren's first win since the1969 Mexican Grand Prix.
The modified M19C made its debut atMonaco in the hands of Denny Hulme, with Revson andBrian Redman continuing to use the M19A until theAustrian Grand Prix. Revson claimed pole position at theCanadian Grand Prix, McLaren's first ever pole position. Increased reliability over 1971 and a string of podium finishes secured third place in the 1972 Constructor's Championship for McLaren.
Future world championJody Scheckter made his Formula 1 debut in a M19A at theUnited States Grand Prix.
McLaren began the1973 Formula One season with both Denny Hulme and Peter Revson continuing to drive the M19C. Revson switched to a M19A for theBrazilian Grand Prix, then Hulme was given the newMcLaren M23 for theSouth African Grand Prix. Hulme qualified the M23 on pole and finished fifth, with Revson and Jody Scheckter finishing in second and ninth place in the two M19C's, giving the M19 its 13th and final podium finish. This race would prove to be the last race for a McLaren M19.
(key) (results inbold indicate pole position; results initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Bruce McLaren Motor Racing | FordCosworth DFV | G | RSA | ESP | MON | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | 10* | 6th | |||||
| Denny Hulme | 6 | 5 | 4 | 12 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 4 | Ret | |||||||||||
| Peter Gethin | NC | 9 | Ret | Ret | |||||||||||||||||
| Jackie Oliver | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Penske-White Racing | Mark Donohue | 3 | DNS | ||||||||||||||||||
| David Hobbs | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1972 | Yardley Team McLaren | FordCosworth DFV | G | ARG | RSA | ESP | MON | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | 47 | 3rd | ||||
| Denny Hulme | 2 | 1 | Ret | 15 | 3 | 7 | 5 | Ret | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||
| Peter Revson | Ret | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 18 | ||||||||||||
| Brian Redman | 5 | 9 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jody Scheckter | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1973 | Yardley Team McLaren | FordCosworth DFV | G | ARG | BRA | RSA | ESP | BEL | MON | SWE | FRA | GBR | NED | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | 58** | 3rd | |
| Denny Hulme | 5 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Revson | 8 | Ret | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jody Scheckter | 9 |
** 36 points in1973 scored using theMcLaren M23
