1997 McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' depicted in a series of images
Digital Journalist Bryan Hood Covers a Variety of Topics
Bryan Hood, a digital staff writer, is currently employed at a leading online publication. The specific timeframe of his employment at the website is not provided, but it is known that his role involves writing for the digital section.
Before joining the current publication, Hood had a diverse career in journalism. He previously worked for several prestigious outlets, including the New York Post, Artinfo, and New York magazine, where he covered a range of topics, including celebrity gossip.
The exact nature of the articles Hood writes for the website is not specified, but his versatility in journalism has likely allowed him to cover a variety of subjects. His writing style is approachable and engaging, making him a valuable asset to the digital team.
In a different realm, the 1997 McLaren F1 GTR "Longtail" made its mark in the world of motorsport. This racing evolution of the iconic McLaren F1 was designed to enhance aerodynamic downforce and endurance racing performance, particularly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The car featured significant modifications, including extended bodywork and a taller roof scoop, which improved downforce and allowed it to compete with rivals like the Porsche 911 GT1 and Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. The car's engine was a slightly downsized version of BMW's 6.0-liter naturally aspirated V12, producing about 600 hp at 7,500 rpm.
The 1997 Longtail GTR chassis weighed around 910 kg, making it the lightest iteration of the F1 lineage until much later models surpassed this figure. Finnish driver JJ Lehto, who had won Le Mans in 1995 with the McLaren F1 GTR, praised the Longtail’s improved aerodynamics, braking, power, and lightness, describing it as a leap comparable to moving from Formula 3000 to Formula 1 in driving experience.
During the 1997 racing season, the Longtail cars participated in the FIA GT Championship and Le Mans. Chassis 27R was the first and only privately entered Longtail to lead a round of the FIA GT Championship but finished sixth after a rain-shortened race. Team Schnitzer ran chassis 23R with notable drivers Peter Kox and Roberto Ravaglia, achieving victory at Silverstone and a second-place finish at Sebring that year.
At the 1997 Le Mans race, the Longtail was competitive but did not replicate the overall victory of the 1995 F1 GTR. Mechanical reliability and race conditions shaped final outcomes. After the 1997 season, the Longtail cars were retired from racing and maintained by BMW before entering private collections.
The 1997 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail is remembered as a significant technical step forward, merging enhanced aero, lighter weight, and improved powertrain sophistication to uphold McLaren’s competitiveness in endurance racing during that era.
[1] McLaren F1 GTR Longtail: The Ultimate Endurance Racer. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-2016/5997/mclaren-f1-gtr-longtail-ultimate-endurance-racer [2] McLaren F1 GTR Longtail. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33687107/mclaren-f1-gtr-longtail-history-race-cars/ [3] McLaren F1 GTR Longtail. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.motortrend.com/cars/mclaren/f1-gtr/1997/1997-mclaren-f1-gtr-longtail/ [4] Bryan Hood. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanhood/
In his diverse career as a digital staff writer, Bryan Hood might write engaging articles covering a variety of topics. Such articles could potentially include features on luxury lifestyle, including the history and performance of cars like the McLaren F1 GTR "Longtail," or reports about exciting sports events.
A example of such an article could delve into the legendary 1997 McLaren F1 GTR "Longtail," revealing its exceptional aerodynamics, power, and lightweight design that made it one of the ultimate endurance racers, as highlighted in articles from Motorsport Magazine, Car and Driver, and Motor Trend.
