Video: Racing a McLaren M1B at Sebring in the dark is as scary as you’d think
The rear lights of a competitor appear out of the darkness, and the filming car clings to its tail. This is classic endurance at its finest, with historic sports cars racing through the night during the 2017 Classic 12 Hour at Sebring.
This epic onboard is courtesy of Nigel Greensall, at the wheel of a 1966 No. 96 McLaren-Chevrolet M1B. Despite the darkness, Greensall pushes the iconic racer to its limits, surprising given the car’s history.
The Chevrolet-powered weapon began its life in the 1966 USRRC Can-Am Series in the hands of rising German racer Lothar Motschenbacher, earning its white and purple stripes when he moved across to Dan Blocker's Nickey Vinageroon team. Regularly in the top five, Motschenbacher won his first USRRC race at Mid Ohio in 1966 with this car and finished 2nd three times, on two occasions to none other than Bruce McLaren. After winning again in May '67 at Laguna Seca, Motschenbacher moved to Dana Chevrolet to race their new M1C and this car was sold.
After a full restoration in the intervening period, the M1B made its comeback at the 2010 Goodwood Revival, and has since been raced regularly in classic racing series around the world. It underwent another rebuild from the chassis up in 2017 before racing at Sebring.
What’s remarkable is just how little you can actually see racing at night at Sebring. There are some lights, of course, but for the most part Greensall is ploughing into the darkness to the tune of V8 thunder. What a soundtrack, and what a drive.
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