Gallery: McLaren F1 LM

Continue reading VIDEO: McLaren at Le Mans: Pursuit of Perfection

VIDEO: McLaren at Le Mans: Pursuit of Perfection originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for hi-res gallery of the McLaren F1 LM

Now that Lewis Hamilton has secured the Formula One championship, supercar fans around the world are asking when he'll get his hands on that rare McLaren F1 LM. The incredibly valuable supercar - initially reported at $4 million but now apparently worth closer to 8 - was promised to the budding young driver if he won the title. However, the condition was that he win both the drivers title and, together with team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, lock up the constructors' title for the team, as well. Although he won the drivers' championship, the constructors' crown went to arch-rivals Ferrari, but since McLaren chief Ron Dennis is such a good sport, he's renegotiated the terms.

If Hamilton manages to repeat his title victory with a hat-trick - that is, take another two championships - he'll get his hands on the bright orange supercar. That's quite a challenge, but Dennis called it a "small price to pay for three world championships." Indeed, but by then McLaren will have a whole slew of supercars on the market for Lewis to choose from. In the meantime, he'd better keep his head down and focus on the prize.

Gallery: McLaren F1 LM

The Fine Print: Hamilton will get his McLaren F1 LM after 3 titles originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ten years ago, Lewis Hamilton was only 13 years old and was already under the wing of McLaren chief Ron Dennis. A young Lewis visited the McLaren headquarters in Woking, England, and fixed his eyes on a bright orange McLaren F1 LM supercar sitting on display at the factory. Good taste, Lewis: only five roadgoing LMs were made, and each one is said to be worth about $4 million. Produced in 1995 to commemorate McLaren's win at Le Mans, it was the fastest supercar of its day, and with a 0-60 time of under three seconds, it remains one of the fastest to this day.

Ron Dennis has now promised Hamilton that if he wins the world championship this year - and locks up the constructors' title together with teammate Heikki Kovalainen - the car will be his. Not a bad bonus.

Gallery: McLaren F1 LM

Hamilton promised $4m McLaren F1 LM for winning title originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.