RM Sotheby’s will offer McLaren F1 GTR chassis 10R, owned by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason since 1999, at its 2026 Monterey auction with a stated value in excess of $35m. Known as the ‘Pop Art F1’, it is the first GTR built to 1996 specification. Chassis 10R is one of two short-tail F1 GTR prototypes retained by McLaren. The other, chassis 01R, won the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours outright for Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing after being prepared by Lanzante Motorsport.
Completed at Woking in December 1995, 10R was the first of nine F1 GTRs constructed to the revised 1996 specification. McLaren retained the car for development, testing and promotional work rather than selling it to a customer team. It was used during winter testing at Magny-Cours before completing a 12-hour test programme in preparation for the 1996 Le Mans 24 Hours. Three weeks later, it took part in the race’s pre-qualifying session under the Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing banner. Driven by McLaren works driver David Brabham, 10R ran in plain Blood Red paint with graphite wheels. It finished the session eighth in its class and 20th overall, although chassis 11R was subsequently selected to contest the race itself.
The car later received its yellow ‘96 GTR’ graphics and remains the only McLaren F1 GTR to wear a livery created by the factory rather than by a racing team or commercial sponsor. Its Blood Red and yellow scheme led to the ‘Pop Art F1’ nickname. Gordon Murray said its appearance was intended to be more distinctive than a conventional single-colour finish. “The prototype belonged to us, so we could do anything,” he said. “And I thought, well, if you’re going to do something, go mad.”
Murray also recalled that then McLaren chairman Ron Dennis did not want a red McLaren because of the colour’s association with Ferrari. Murray maintained that no manufacturer could claim ownership of a primary colour.
Changes to the McLaren F1 to create the GTR included the use of magnesium casing and strengthened internal components, contributing to a 38kg reduction compared with the 1995 car. These changes formed the specification first applied to chassis 10R. McLaren retained the prototype after completing its development programme and later converted it for road use. It was registered as K40 MCL in 1999 before further work was undertaken by Paul Lanzante and Lanzante Limited. The conversion was among the earliest carried out on an F1 GTR, with approximately 16 racing examples believed to have subsequently been adapted for road use.
Mason acquired the car directly from McLaren in 1999 and became its first private owner. The McLaren appeared at Rétromobile in 2007 and was tested by Autocar in 2009. It underwent a restoration by Lanzante later that year after leaving the road and entering a field during a separate media drive. It subsequently took part in several events organised by the 106 Drivers Club, including a 750km anniversary tour and a Tour of Tuscany based in Siena. It has also appeared at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting and Goodwood Festival of Speed. During a GT1 demonstration at the 2017 Members’ Meeting, Mason lost control of the car and struck a tyre barrier; Lanzante completed a second restoration following the incident. Its most recent cited Goodwood appearance came at the 2022 Festival of Speed.
Paul and Dean Lanzante have maintained the car throughout Mason’s ownership. RM Sotheby’s states that it returned to Lanzante after significant use and that a recent inspection report is included in its accompanying documentation. Chassis 10R will be offered at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction with a value in excess of $35 million. More details are available here.
