A 33-year-old McLaren Formula 1 car that never raced, but was tested by Ayrton Senna, has made its first public run after years of generating a cult following.
The MP4/8 was the car the Woking-based squad produced to contest the 1993 World Championship, with Senna and Michael Andretti at the wheel.
Senna was close to not competing in the season, and McLaren had signed Mika Hakkinen from Team Lotus, believing the great Brazilian was set to take a one-year sabbatical.
But at the 11th hour, Senna decided to return, and Hakkinen was forced to bide his time, taking over from Andretti after the Italian Grand Prix, when the American was ousted from the team due to poor performances.
Ford powered the MP4/8, in the shape of its HBD7 engine. But, behind the scenes, the car was given some radical tests, in the form of a very special engine.
Three months of alterations saw the car able to accommodate a longer, heavy Lamborghini V12, designed by former Ferrari engineer Mauro Forghieri.
The car was tested twice – at Silverstone and Estoril, with Senna and Hakkinen piloting the machine, and was run with a plain white livery, with no sponsors at all.
Despite some drawbacks, including reliability – 19 laps was said to be its longest stint – Senna was so impressed that he requested to race the car with the engine, but Team Principal Ron Dennis refused.
It was said that an engine contract with Peugeot was signed already, and the French marque powered its 1994 car, before switching to – and beginning its long and hugely-successful partnership with – Mercedes in 1995.
The mystery surrounding the car and its story has led to many cultish followings of it, which will no doubt excite fans of a likewise mind as it took to the famous hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
View the footage below!
The MP4/8B’s first public run 😍#McLarenF1 pic.twitter.com/sovrpcYpNl
— McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team (@McLarenF1) July 10, 2026
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