The McLaren M10 was a Formula 5000 racing chassis that competed in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand between 1969 and 1973. It was built by the British racing car maker Trojan rather than by McLaren, and its light weight and Chevrolet V8 made it one of the most successful cars of the formula.
McLaren M10 at a glance
| Type | Formula 5000 racing car |
|---|---|
| Years | 1969–1973 |
| Builder | Trojan, for McLaren |
| Engine | Chevrolet V8, more than 500 hp |
| Construction | built close to the minimum weight limit |
| North American title | 1970, John Cannon, four wins |
| North American title | 1971, David Hobbs, five wins |
| European title | Peter Gethin, Church Farm Racing |
| Australian Grand Prix | 1970, Frank Matich, M10B with Repco-Holden V8 |
| Delivered | 17 of the 50 ordered |
based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the McLaren M10
The M10 was made in unusually large numbers for a racing car of its type, but not by McLaren itself: production was handed to Trojan, which completed and delivered 17 of the 50 cars originally ordered. Built close to the weight limit, the chassis was very light and was powered by a Chevrolet V8 of more than 500 hp.
The M10 was the only Formula 5000 car to win the North American championship twice. John Cannon took the title in 1970 with four race wins, and a year later the Briton David Hobbs won it with victories at Seattle, Road America, Laguna Seca, Edmonton and Lime Rock.
The car was also used in the European Formula 5000 Championship: in the first season of the series Peter Gethin won the title in an M10 entered by Church Farm Racing. In Australia, Frank Matich drove an M10B with a Repco-Holden V8 to victory in the 1970 Australian Grand Prix at Warwick Farm in Sydney, the first of 13 McLaren wins in that race.
Design and features
- Light chassis: built close to the weight limit, which together with the V8 gave a strong power-to-weight ratio.
- Chevrolet V8: more than 500 hp from a proven American engine, easy to service between races.
- Trojan production: assembled by an outside racing car maker in far greater numbers than McLaren’s own cars.
- Customer formula: designed for private entrants, which is why so many examples reached club and national racing.
McLaren M10 versions
- M10 (1969–1973): the standard Chevrolet-engined car.
- M10B: the later version, used for example by Frank Matich in Australia with a Repco-Holden V8.
The M10 was one of several customer McLarens of the period, alongside the M12, and it followed the M8 Can-Am cars. More cars are in the McLaren collection.
Sources
- McLaren M10, English Wikipedia: design, Trojan production, racing results
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