Oracle Red Bull Racing broke the record for most consecutive race wins in F1 history at the Hungarian GP last weekend. The RB19, at the hands of F1 champ Max Verstappen at the race, broke the McLaren's 1988 record of 11 consecutive wins as the car won its 12th race in a row. However, avid F1 fans will still argue that the RB19 hasn’t quite surpassed the MP4/4’s legacy with the latter still regarded as the greatest F1 car of all time.
So when the McLaren MP4/4’s creator, Steve Nichols, came up with his very own creation, we were all ears. Meet the Nichols Cars N1A, a 7.0-litre V8 tribute to the original McLaren M1A.
The 650 horsepower V8 engine has been developed from an LS3 block with a dry sump, drive-by-wire throttle bodies, custom pistons and conrods, along with new steel liners. The powertrain is meticulously assembled by hand by experts at Langford Performance Engineering (LPE). LPE is also restoring old V8 and V10 F1 engines currently. As standard, the engine will be mated to a six-speed manual from Dana Graziano, with more transmission options set to come later.
The N1A features independent front and rear suspension, double wishbones, and anti-roll bars as standard. Furthermore, traction control is included, though power steering and switchable ABS are both extras.
The design is a nod to the classic McLaren Can-Am racer but the N1A is wider and has a longer wheelbase. It sits on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
The driver-focused interior is refreshingly uncomplicated, with only the essentials and nothing to distract you from having fun behind the wheel. The chassis is made of a blend of carbon fibre and aluminium.
“Having experienced amazing racing cars over the decades, I’ve never been able to implement those quirky qualities into a road car, until now,” said Nichols. “Taking into account all the people that have worked on the N1A, I’m incredibly proud that the car is part of the next chapter in sports car history and is the next step for us and Nichols Cars.”
Only 100 cars will be built and pricing hasn’t been announced yet. Given how bespoke and beautiful it is, don’t expect the N1A to come cheap.
