Estoril Classics celebrates 10th edition with McLaren MP4/1

The 10th edition of Estoril Classics will take place at the Autódromo do Estoril from September 18 to 20. The event features 14 races and 10 competitions, showcasing over 200 classic Formula 1, Sports Cars, GT, and touring cars.

The headline attraction is the McLaren MP4/1, designed by John Barnard and debuted in 1981. This model revolutionized Formula 1 as the first car to utilize a full carbon fiber monocoque, which increased structural rigidity, reduced weight, and significantly improved driver safety. The effectiveness of this technology was demonstrated when John Watson survived a severe accident at Monza with the survival cell intact.

The McLaren MP4/1 is also noted for its role in Niki Lauda’s return to Formula 1. After a two-year hiatus, Lauda tested the car in September 1981 and eventually secured his third world championship in 1984, a title famously clinched at the Estoril circuit.