SimRaceway – McLaren M26 1977 Released.

McLaren M26 1977 Released.

The McLaren M26 was largely based on its predecessor, the World Drivers’ Championship- and World Constructors’ Championship-winning M23. It made its race debut in the 1976 Dutch Grand Prix during James Hunt’s title-winning season but wasn’t used consistently until the 1977 season, by which time a nose redesign had improved its competitiveness.

Designed by Gordon Coppuck to be lighter and more aerodynamically-efficient than the M23, the M26’s 485-bhp Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine powered Hunt to his first win of the 1977 season in his home Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Thanks to a further two victories, in the United States and Japan, and two more podium finishes in Brazil and France, the car led the British team to a respectable third place in the 1977 World Constructors’ Championship—a position that could have been even better but for two costly retirements when Hunt was leading the field. The M26 was updated for the 1978 season but proved unreliable as it strived to keep pace with the ground-breaking Lotus 79.
 

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