12 replies to this topic

[Rainer Nyberg]

Sometime during the 1969 Reine Wisell did a test for McLaren, probably late season, maybe someone has more details? Track and an approximate date?

What is 1000/100 you might wonder? (It's my 1000th post here and my 100th thread...)

[Leif Snellman]

Originally posted by Rainer Nyberg
It's my 1000th post here and my 100th thread

Gratulerar, Rainer!

[WGD706]

Not exactly a test.........
http://www.silhouet..../1970/1970.html
http://www.oldracing...asp?RaceID=E70S

It shows he actually ran a McLaren in 1970 in F5000 races, so he must have impressed Mclaren Racing; wonder how he convinced Chapman to let him drive for another team.

[Jeremy Jackson]

Wisell raced the M7A firstly in the International Trophy in 1970, and he replaced Gethin in Sid Taylor's F5000 M10B when Gethin joined the works F1 team after Bruce's death. He joined Lotus before the US / Mexico races after his F5000 drives, so Chapman didn't have to "let him" drive for anyone else.

Rainer, I would agree that this photo was taken in late 1969, after the Mexican GP, since M7A-2 used race no. 5 when driven by Hulme in the final 3 races of the season. The shadows look long enough to be an Autumn/Winter photo - Silverstone?

Alternatively, early 1970, but Gethin raced the M7A at the race of Champions as no. 6, so I wouldn'tthink they'd change numbers.

[fines]

IIRC, Wisell was official McLaren F1 test driver in 1970. One for another thread?;)


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[Rainer Nyberg]

Originally posted by fines
IIRC, Wisell was official McLaren F1 test driver in 1970.

Wow, already into F1 as a four year old.....;)
But I assume that recollection was from your later studies...!

Jeremy, WGD706, I would agree that Silverstone could be the circuit, that would have been my initial guess.

The picture is sourced from a 1969 yearbook, so I guess it would have been published very late '69 or very early '70. The book also contains a testing pic showing Jackie Stewart in a March 701 so that could be a clue.

I was aware about the International Trophy start and the F5000 adventures.

Och tack Leif

[fines]

Originally posted by Rainer Nyberg
Wow, already into F1 as a four year old.....;)
But I assume that recollection was from your later studies...!

Yes, of course!

And, belatedly, congrats for your double milestone!

[Felix Muelas]

Originally posted by Rainer Nyberg
It's my 1000th post here and my 100th thread

Enhorabuena, amigo!

Thanks for being there all these times...

Felix

[David Beard]

Originally posted by fines
IIRC, Wisell was official McLaren F1 test driver in 1970. One for another thread?;)

There was such a thing as an official test driver in 1970?....I thought that all started with Henton & Crawford at Lotus.

[Pete Stowe]

There were a couple of items in Motoring News - one in November 1969 which mentioned Wisell and fellow F3 driver Howden Ganley trying "Denny Hulme’s Mexican GP winning McLaren M7A" at Goodwood, according to Phil Kerr "just for the experience." The other in 1970 referred to Wisell trying the "ex-Denny Hulme M7A as driven in the Race of Champions by Peter Gethin" again at Goodwood. This was apparently a longer test in preparation for the International Trophy, Wisell’s best time being approx 0.5 sec/lap slower than Hulme used to do in the same car. They implied that Wisell hadn’t tested the car between these two sessions; Goodwood was also the usual place McLaren went testing.

As at both of the 1970 races the car ran as no. 6, I suggest the picture is from the November 1969 Goodwood test - I might be able pin down the date a bit closer with some more checking.

Wisell and Peter Gethin were signed up for occasional drives in a third F1 car in 1970 rather than as test drivers, Gethin also having the works backed F5000 drive, which Wisell took over when Gethin stepped up to the GP team, as already mentioned here.

[Jeremy Jackson]

I agree that Goodwood is a better choice of venue for this, as it was Mclaren's usual venue - Don't know why my brain couldn't put that bit of thinking together in the first place

Rainer, IIRC, Stewart didn't test the 701 until Jan / Feb70, so I doubt the 2 photos are related

[Pete Stowe]

According to the report, the 1969 Goodwood test was on Thursday 27 November.

[John Fransson]

There was a contract ready to be signed for Reine, but when Bruce was killed, it all died out and he had to "settle" with Lotus

He did manage bring the car in fifth in a Non-Championship race at Silverstone though.

- John