Gordon Murray is a man you should be familiar with. Not only did he design the McLaren F1 but he designed nearly two-dozen Brabham Formula 1 cars from 1973 to 1986, and co-designed two McLaren Formula 1 cars, the MP4/3 and the MP4/4 (the car that took McLaren to the 1988 constructors’ championship and Ayrton Senna to the ’88 driver’s title). Considering his career began when he built and raced his own car in the late 1960s, he’s an interesting character to say the least, with a world of interesting tales to tell. We were all too happy to spend a few moments with him over the 77MM weekend.
My Members’ Meeting: Gordon Murray
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GRR: What car did you come to Goodwood in today?
GM: My new every day car, after 16 years with a Smart Roadster. It’s a new Alpine A110, which I love. It’s my sort of car. It could be a bit smaller, that’s the only thing.
GRR: What time did you arrive?
GM: I got here at 7.30am. That’s when I always arrive so I can go around all the paddocks before the racing starts.
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GRR: Your favourite paddock this year?
GM: I love all the cars of the 1950s in the Parnell Cup because when I was 10 these were the cars I was watching. Cars like Connaughts and Cooper-Bristols. Walking around that paddock, it was like, wow, reminds me of my dad. My first GP was in 1959, and that was when I really started to get into motor racing.
GRR: Your favourite race?
GM: I love seeing the little 1.0-litre Formula 3 screamers, the ‘60s cars that race for the Derek Bell Cup. I have a Lotus 31 myself but I can’t even get a leg into it to be honest. But I love the shape.
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GRR: What have you missed at 77MM?
GM: Er… the McLaren F1. It was in the McLaren parade and not sure what happened but anyway I missed seeing it on the circuit. That car is XP5, the one that did the top speed run at Ehra-Lessien. I remember years ago coming to Goodwood with the F1 for a charity event when I did 30 laps in the car with passengers. Down the straight into Woodcote it was pulling 175mph…
GRR: 77MM weekend over, it’s back to work on?..
GM: The next F1. Gordon Murray Automotive has been working on it for a year (they gave details and showed a teaser image late 2018 – see our story here). Thesupercar project is going very well, we have been selling very quietly and very privately, and will start talking to the press about it next month.
Photography by Jayson Fong and Dominic James.
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