Photo by Paul-Henri Cahier
McLaren and Honda partnered for the very first time in 1988, the Japanese manufacture supplying an all new 1.5-litre twin-turbo V6 which was small, light and very powerful. Honda had been able to build the tiny unit thanks to a smaller-diameter clutch elaborated by US supplier Tilton, which in turn supported a compact design which lowered the engine's centre of gravity.
When designers Gordon Murray and Steve Nichols looked at the engine's specs they immediately knew they would cater to a lower, flatter and more aerodynamic car. Murray drew on his previous Brabham experience of designing the low-line BT55 which, despite achieving dismal results, embodied an interesting theory. The driver was lowered and slanted back into position to suit a knee-high, sleek, driver-exposed profile which looks pretty scary today.
