It’s hard to imagine being able to ‘play it cool’ when standing in a lockup like this which is basically F1’s equivalent of the holy grail. This is McLaren’s ‘Unit 2’ (location a closely guarded secret) where they store their past F1 cars including all the spares and technology that go with them!

Since 1981 when McLaren International as we know it today was born, not a single solitary McLaren F1 car has been sold on the open market. Not one. They all end up in Unit 2 under dust sheets that just a privileged few, like Jenson and Lewis get to see, let alone touch or even drive!

mclaren f1 unit 2

Rare and priceless objects of F1 affection like a one-off Lamborghini-engined test car, driven by Ayrton Senna, sits in a corner. The MP4-18 test car, which never raced and the legendary MP4/4 designed by Gordon Murray and driven again by Senna, all occupy a tiny place in F1’s version of Area 51.

Around 25 of the total 75 cars are in McLaren Automotive retailers around the globe on display, so basically if you ever want to see one, either buy a P1 or pretend that you want to!

Photographs © Darren Heath

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