Mc Laren MP4/3

Mc Laren MP4/3

The McLaren MP4/3 is a Formula One racing car built and run by McLaren International during the 1987 Formula One World Championship. It was designed under the leadership of American engineer Steve Nichols, after John Barnard quit the team in August 1986. It was the first all-new chassis design for McLaren International since the successful MP4/2 series of cars debuted at the start of the 1984 season.

The MP4/3’s aerodynamics were completely different from the MP4/2, and the car appeared much more low-slung, to take advantage of the maximum fuel capacity limit of 195 litres, rather than the 220 litre limit in effect from 1984 to 1985. With addition of side-ducted radiators, the car’s basic exterior shape was all-new and sleeker than its predecessor. However, it carried over the suspension geometry and gearbox design from the MP4/2. The engine was the same 1.5 litre TAG-Porsche twin-turbo V6 that had so successfully powered the MP4/2, but with slight changes in compression and engine balancing, to cope with not only the new reduced fuel limit, but also with the FIA's mandated pop-off valve which restricted turbo boost to 4.0 Bar after turbo charging was unrestricted prior to 1987.