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General Information

Vehicle Type: 0-door convertible, race car

Drivetrain

Configuration: Mid Engine/RWD
Engine: V8
Displacement: 2400 cc
Max RPM: 19000
Transmission: 7-Speed Sequential

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes today presented the MP4-23, the team’s 2008 Formula 1 car, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The first design meeting for the MP4-23 took place back in November 2006 with early layout work starting in March 2007. Lewis Hamilton, Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett had their provisional seat fittings for the MP4-23 back in September 2007. Heikki Kovalainen was fitted for his seat shortly after being announced as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver. The car build process for chassis 1 began in early December 2007 and was finished in early January 2008. Throughout the development process 150 different engineers have been involved in the whole project in all disciplines. 14000 engineering man hours have so far been put into the MP4-23 development project. A similar number applies to the manufacturing man hours involved to produce the MP4-23 in time for its track debut on the 9th January 2008. The MP4-23 is an evolution of the MP4-22 and as such there is no significant visual difference currently, however between now and the first race in Australia there are planned upgrades on most of the aerodynamic surfaces, wings, bodywork, bargeboards and additional bodywork components.