McLaren M14A explained

Car Name:McLaren M14
Category:Formula One
Wc Results Only:Y
Constructor:McLaren Racing
Designer:Gordon Coppuck
Predecessor:M7A / M9A
Successor:M19A
Team:Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
Drivers: Denny Hulme
Bruce McLaren
Dan Gurney
Technical Ref:[1]
Chassis:Aluminium monocoque.
Front Suspension:Double wishbone.
Rear Suspension:Double wishbone.
Wheelbase:94.80NaN0
Track:Front: 62.40NaN0
Rear: 61.50NaN0
Engine Name:Ford-Cosworth DFV
Capacity:29931NaN1
Configuration:90° V8,
Turbo/Na:naturally aspirated,
Engine Position:mid-mounted.
Gearbox Name:Hewland DG300
Gears:5-speed
Type:manual gearbox.
Weight:5360NaN0
Debut:1970 South African Grand Prix
Races:18
Wins:0
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:0

The McLaren M14A is a Formula One racing car built and raced by McLaren in the 1970 World Championship and the 1971 World Championship. A later extension, the McLaren M14D featured a V8 Alfa Romeo engine.

Design

M14A

The M14A was an evolution of the previous M7A and M7C, with the primary change being the rear brakes were mounted inboard instead of outboard.[2] As with the M7, the M14A was powered by a Cosworth DFV V8 and a Hewland 5-speed manual gearbox.

M14D

Like the M7D, the M14D was commissioned by Alfa Romeo's Autodelta competition department. It was a standard M14A powered by the 3.0 litre V8 engine from Alfa Romeo's T33 sports car.

Competition history

1970

The Formula 1 season started out with two second places, a fourth, and three retirements for Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme. Bruce McLaren was killed on 2 June 1970 at the Goodwood Circuit while testing the new M8D Can-Am car. McLaren withdrew their entries to the Belgian Grand Prix, which was run five days after the fatal accident. Hulme had also been injured the month before in a methanol fire while practicing for the Indianapolis 500.

McLaren resumed racing at the Dutch Grand Prix, with Dan Gurney and Peter Gethin driving. Hulme came back for the next race in France, replacing Gethin. Gurney ran one more race, then was replaced by Gethin for the rest of the season. Hulme was able to score three third places, but McLaren finished fifth in the 1970 Constructor's Championship.

Andrea de Adamich began the season campaigning an Alfa Romeo powered M7D, then switched to the M14D, also Alfa Romeo powered, for the Dutch Grand Prix.

1971

Peter Gethin started the 1971 season driving a 14A, while Denny Hulme raced the only 19A that had been built at that point. Following two retirements and an eighth place at the Spanish Grand Prix, Gethin was also given a 19A to race. The 14A was brought out of retirement for Jackie Oliver to race, who finished with a retirement, a ninth, and a seventh place to cap off the career of the McLaren 14A.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantChassisEngineTyresDrivers12345678910111213PointsWCC
Bruce McLaren Motor RacingM14AFord Cosworth DFVRSAESPMONBELNEDFRAGBRGERAUTITACANUSAMEX355th
Bruce McLarenRet2Ret
Dan GurneyRet6Ret
Peter GethinRetRet10Ret614Ret
Denny Hulme2Ret43Ret4Ret73
M14D43
Alfa Romeo T33 V8 Andrea de AdamichDNQDNQ128RetDNQNC0
Bruce McLaren Motor RacingM14AFord Cosworth DFVRSAESPMONNEDFRAGBRGERAUTITACANUSA10*6th
Peter GethinRet8Ret
Jackie OliverRet97

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1970 - 1971 McLaren M14A Cosworth . Ultimatecarpage.com . 20 September 2014.
  2. Web site: The Grand Prix Scene. motorsportmagazine.com. Motor Sport. 20 September 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140924062602/http://archive.motorsportmagazine.com/article/march-1970/24/grand-prix-scene. 24 September 2014. dmy-all.