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My MP4-22/5A 'Track' Car

22424 Views 166 Replies 39 Participants Last post by  Mikeyb
Dreams do come true.

So am delighted to say that I have purchased MP4 -22/5A

Originally driven by Lewis Hamilton in his first season in F1, this particular chassis won twice with him at the wheel, in Hungary and Japan. He also drove it to 4 second places, most notably at Monaco, but also at Malaysia, Bahrain, and Spain and also two pole positions and two fastest laps. It also was the chassis that sadly went into the gravel in the pit lane at China, a pivotal moment in the season that year.

2007 will always be remembered as the only season (so far) that Alonso and Hamilton were in the same team, thankfully at Mclaren. Sadly it will also be remembered for the spygate controversy, indeed arguably the controversy started when Fernando blocked Lewis in the pit lane at Hungary during quali, when Lewis was driving this very chassis. Thankfully as noted above Lewis went on to win the race.

I am hugely grateful to the Boards of McLaren technology group and Mclaren Automotive for sanctioning this sale, as well as the heritage department at MSO for the advice that they gave during the purchase.

The car is currently being refurbished in the heritage bays at MTC so those of you visiting in the coming weeks and perhaps months will see it.

Hopefully the car will be ready to go by the end of the year, and all going well, I will be driving it at Pure Mclaren days next year, maybe the end of this year (although not at the same time as other road cars!)

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Dreams do come true.

So am delighted to say that I have purchased MP4 -22/5A

Originally driven by Lewis Hamilton in his first season in F1, this particular chassis won twice with him at the wheel, in Hungary and Japan. He also drove it to 4 second places, most notably at Monaco, but also at Malaysia, Bahrain, and Spain and also two pole positions and two fastest laps. It also was the chassis that sadly went into the gravel in the pit lane at China, a pivotal moment in the season that year.

2007 will always be remembered as the only season (so far) that Alonso and Hamilton were in the same team, thankfully at Mclaren. Sadly it will also be remembered for the spygate controversy, indeed arguably the controversy started when Fernando blocked Lewis in the pit lane at Hungary during quali, when Lewis was driving this very chassis. Thankfully as noted above Lewis went on to win the race.

I am hugely grateful to the Boards of McLaren technology group and Mclaren Automotive for sanctioning this sale, as well as the heritage department at MSO for the advice that they gave during the purchase.

The car is currently being refurbished in the heritage bays at MTC so those of you visiting in the coming weeks and perhaps months will see it.

Hopefully the car will be ready to go by the end of the year, and all going well, I will be driving it at Pure Mclaren days next year, maybe the end of this year (although not at the same time as other road cars!)
Looking forward to seeing and hearing it on track.....and I will promise to stay thin if you let me have a Photo of me sitting in it (hand tied up for risk of getting near the buttons ).....Special moment for all McLaren fans !!!
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Just amazing and very exciting news Mikey..... congratulations, am following this journey very closely!! ??


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Dreams do come true!

It will be very interesting to read your thoughts on how it drives. I'm sure it will be epic.

The colour scheme is better than the current cars, imop, and the history as LH first car makes it very special. It may sporn a thread " What's the appreciation on F1 cars".
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Bloody hell that is awesome mikey. Would love to see it, even if I'm short of a car to get to the Mclaren trackdays I'm sneaking in come what may!
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Fantastic news Miley!! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy! I'm glad to see McLaren is finally letting some of these cars get used by enthusiasts instead of sitting around collecting dust! So very few McLaren race cars had ever been in private hands. I remember going to the Pure McLaren event in Austin last year and one owner turned up with an Emerson Fitipaldi McLaren race car and everyone absolutely LOVED IT! It was an incredible spectacle for those of us who got to see and hear it roar around the track!

Obviously I always expected they'd hold on to the most important cars in their history but every year there are two or three chassis that could be used by people like you and to get to be on track alongside them, or even watch them from the pits, is a huge honor for McLaren owners bringing their own street cars to these events. Ferrari has been doing this for years and it's been hugely successful. I'm glad to see McLaren Group shaking off some of their stuffiness of the past and allowing things like this to happen.

Enjoy it and stay safe!
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That is so cool! I need to work out getting to one of those Pure days next year, even if it's just as a spectator.

-Jamie.
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Are you kidding me! WOW. :):)

Mikey: First, let me congratulate you on such an awesome purchase. It's fantastic that this car is in the hands of such a deserving enthusiast (Petrol Head). I couldn't be happier or more excited for you and the family and wish you many years of enjoyment. Please do keep us posted on what will definitely be an awesome experience.

Have fun and stay safe my friend.
Fantastic news Miley!! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy! I'm glad to see McLaren is finally letting some of these cars get used by enthusiasts instead of sitting around collecting dust! So very few McLaren race cars had ever been in private hands. I remember going to the Pure McLaren event in Austin last year and one owner turned up with an Emerson Fitipaldi McLaren race car and everyone absolutely LOVED IT! It was an incredible spectacle for those of us who got to see and hear it roar around the track!

Obviously I always expected they'd hold on to the most important cars in their history but every year there are two or three chassis that could be used by people like you and to get to be on track alongside them, or even watch them from the pits, is a huge honor for McLaren owners bringing their own street cars to these events. Ferrari has been doing this for years and it's been hugely successful. I'm glad to see McLaren Group shaking off some of their stuffiness of the past and allowing things like this to happen.

Enjoy it and stay safe!
Thanks your support and kind words fella as always. Can't wait to take a photo of you sat in it.. .maybe even your side of the pond.. ;-)

As you say, it's proper cool that we will be able to see these cars out and about in the wild. I think the plans that are afoot will mean everyone will be able to have a really close look at something we have only ever previously seen on the TV..
That is so cool! I need to work out getting to one of those Pure days next year, even if it's just as a spectator.

-Jamie.
You do indeed. !
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Are you kidding me! WOW. :):)

Mikey: First, let me congratulate you on such an awesome purchase. It's fantastic that this car is in the hands of such a deserving enthusiast (Petrol Head). I couldn't be happier or more excited for you and the family and wish you many years of enjoyment. Please do keep us posted on what will definitely be an awesome experience.

Have fun and stay safe my friend.
Too kind DLC thanks... i hope to see you and it at the same time one day.. that would be really cool !
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There is (was?) an old McLaren F1 car based at our local track (Sonoma) that I've seen zipping past while I'm careening around in my street car. I don't know the specifics, its probably 1970ish. But I imagine with its Ford Cosworth engine and aluminum tub it's a whole lot easier to keep running than a modern MP4-22
I learned something today.
I always heard that Mclaren had never sold any Formula 1 car and kept them all.
Happy for you that that was not true.
Congratulations !
Holy cow, congrats Mikey! So are you going to drive the snot out of this, or kick the grand piano out of the living room and put this in its place? :D
Holy cow, congrats Mikey! So are you going to drive the snot out of this, or kick the grand piano out of the living room and put this in its place? :D
Both my friend.
Summer it'll be moved around europe and maybe the world to various tracks.

Winter it'll be home to be able to look at it a bit longer.
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I learned something today.
I always heard that Mclaren had never sold any Formula 1 car and kept them all.
Happy for you that that was not true.
Congratulations !
It's true they didn't. They only sold one to Zak brown himself in the modern age.

Thankfully Mr. b likes the idea of there being other enthusiasts like him taking the cars out.

I understood completely why ron wanted to keep them all, but am pleased the policy appears to have eased a little
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Like everyone else has expressed, this is great news Mikey and well done.

It will be fantastic to see a modern F1 car in the wild.

Will McLaren be running it for you, as I believe these cars need a legion of engineers just to start the thing?
I had a similar question - where there any restrictions on the purchase - only you can drive it and then only with McLaren Engineers in attendance for example or could you just take it down to your local track day? Ducati sold some of their MotoGP bikes to private buyers but they had to have it service every year by MotoGP Engineers and you couldn't ride it unless they were in attendance as the start-up procedure is pretty complicated and you could do some real damage if you got it wrong!!

Oh and btw many congratulations Mikey that must be one of the rarer "car" purchases!!
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