.jpg) Ayrton Senna driving the MP4/8 at the 1993 British Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | McLaren | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Neil Oatley (Executive Engineer) Matthew Jeffreys (Head of Vehicle Design) David North (Chief Engineer-Transmission) David Neilson (Principal Engineer-Suspension) Bob Bell (Head of R&D) Henri Durand (Head of Aerodynamics) Geoff Goddard (Chief Engine Designer) (Ford) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | MP4/7A | ||||||||||
| Successor | MP4/9 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibre and honeycomb composite structure | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbones, pushrod, inboard spring / damper / actuator | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbones, pushrod, inboard spring / damper / actuator | ||||||||||
| Axle track | Front: 1,690 mm (67 in) Rear: 1,615 mm (63.6 in) | ||||||||||
| Wheelbase | 2,845 mm (112.0 in) | ||||||||||
| Engine | Ford HBD7, 3,494 cc (213.2 cu in), 75° V8 NA (max: 13700 rpm and 14300 rpm for MP4/8B (V12)) mid-engine, longitudinally mounted, | ||||||||||
| Transmission | McLaren transverse 6-speed semi-automatic sequential | ||||||||||
| Power | 640–730 hp (477.2–544.4 kW) @ 13,200 rpm[1][2] | ||||||||||
| Weight | 505 kg (1,113 lb) | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Shell | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Marlboro McLaren | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 7.  Michael Andretti7.  Mika Häkkinen8.  Ayrton Senna | ||||||||||
| Debut | 1993 South African Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| First win | 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last win | 1993 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 1993 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
The McLaren MP4/8 was the Formula One car with which the McLaren team competed in the 1993 Formula One World Championship. The car was designed by Neil Oatley around advanced electronics technology including a semi-automatic transmission (which could be switched over to fully automatic), active suspension, two-way telemetry, and traction control systems, that were developed in conjunction with McLaren shareholder Techniques d'Avant Garde (TAG).[3][4] It was powered by the 3.5-litre Ford HBD7 V8 engine and was the first McLaren to feature barge boards.[5] This was also the first Ford-powered McLaren car since the MP4/1C in 1983.
The car was driven by triple World Champion Ayrton Senna, in his sixth and final season with McLaren, and by Michael Andretti – son of 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti – who joined Formula One from CART. After the Italian Grand Prix, Andretti returned to America and was replaced by the team's test driver Mika Häkkinen. Senna drove the car to victory on five occasions, finishing runner-up to Alain Prost in the Drivers' Championship, while McLaren were runners-up to Williams in the Constructors' Championship. In an interview, team principal Ron Dennis described the MP4/8 as "one of the best cars we ever made".[6]
- ^ "1993 McLaren MP4/8 Ford Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "Natural Aspirations". 25 June 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Spanish GP, 1993". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "UNDER THE SKIN: MP4/8 - McLaren Applied".
- ^ "McLaren Racing - The MP4/8". www.mclaren.com. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ "Ron Dennis Speaks About Ayrton Senna". YouTube.