BMW has made countless incredible engines over its century of existence. Its name aint’ a joke. However, of all the brilliant engines in BMW’s history, one stands above them all. Poll 100 BMW enthusiasts and ask them what the best Bavarian engine ever was and I’d bet an alarming percentage of my savings that all 100 would have the same answer: the S70/2 V-12 from the McLaren F1. And in a recent video from Chris Harris, you get to watch and, more importantly, listen to him thrash a McLaren F1 GTR Longtail on track and it’s glorious.
The Longtail was the pinnacle of the F1 GTR’s racing career. It debuted in 1997 with all new bodywork, improved aerodynamics, louvers everywhere, and a massive rear wing long enough (and probably strong enough) to double as a bed. However, its powertrain remained mostly the same. Due to regulations, the 6.1-liter naturally aspirated BMW M-sourced V-12 was dropped to 6.0 liters but power remained around 600 horsepower. And rather than its beautiful manual, the transmission was swapped for a sequential manual. That last bit is interesting because, unlike modern sequentials, this one required the use of a cluch pedal with each shift.
The star of the show is that engine, though. It has always been an astonishing thing to listen to, with an incredible mechanical wail as it heads toward redline. It sounds alive, animalistic even, in a way that few engines in history ever have. But in Longtail form, it sounds even better. Not because the engine is much different but because there’s so much less to dampen its soundtrack. The cabin, being a race car, is spartan and quickly becomes filled with the sounds of that V-12.
In the video, Harris laps the GTR Longtail hard, far more so than I would ever be able to, due to a lack of both skill and courage. And it looks like the most incredible track experience. Listening to the engine’s revs rise and fall with each rifle-shot sequential shift is a thing of joy. Almost as joyous is watching Harris’ footwork, as he heel and toe rev-matches the sequential manual faster than I can even think.
It’s always been ironic that BMW’s best engine never powered a BMW product but that shouldn’t stop us from loving the McLaren F1 and it’s sensational engine any less. It doesn’t matter if you’re having a bad day and want to fix it, or having a good day and want to make it better, watch this video.
