The ancient Compaq laptop is the only key to the McLaren F1 supercar.

^{Photo: Patrick Gosling}

This is the Compaq LTE 5280 laptop of the early 90s with a conditional access system (custom-made conditional access system) - a software-hardware mechanism for accessing the coded signal from McLaren F1 systems. In 2016, the McLaren Automotive team - one of the most advanced technology and automotive companies in the world - still uses these laptops and DOS software to service hundreds of McLaren F1 supercars, each of which costs from $ 12 million.

The McLaren Special Operations (MSO) workshop is different. It is located in the industrial area of ​​Woking (England), near the headquarters of the McLaren Group - a huge technological complex, the construction of which lasted 12 years.

The MSO division serviced Formula 1 race cars until the company decided to enter a new commercial sportscar market, where it challenged Ferrari. Now MSO has another challenge - maintaining the remaining McLaren F1 supercars.
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The sports car was produced from 1992 to 1998, a total of 106 cars were produced.



Of the 106 cars, only six copies destroyed naturally.



Some can be restored. Now the workshop is working on the restoration of the instance number 72 , which crashed recently in Italy.

The remaining 100 pieces are under maintenance.

McLaren F1 - a unique car. From 1993 to 2005 was considered the fastest in the world. This is the first sports car on the market with a monocoque monocoque carbon fiber body. It was designed by the legendary designer of the Formula 1 Gordon Murray. The car has an amazing BMW Motorsport V12 engine. Thanks to this monstrous engine on a 630 horsepower McLaren F1 and is now considered the fastest naturally aspirated sports car in the world. The record was set in 1998 and is still not beaten.


^{Photo: Patrick Gosling}

The production used the most advanced components and the most expensive materials, including Kevlar and gold. And the best, most advanced electronics available in the early 90s.


<sup>Photo: Patrick Gosling


Photo: Patrick Gosling</sup>

Why does McLaren spend thousands of dollars on the purchase of ancient laptops of a particular Compaq LTE 5280 model?

“We need these specific Compaq laptops, because a conditional access card made to order works with them. - explained one of the engineers at MSO. “This card is the interface between the software on laptops (under DOS) and the car.”

He added: “We are currently working on a new interface that will be compatible with modern laptops, because these old Compaqs are working less and less reliably and they are becoming harder to find.”

Until a new interface is developed, the hard-working Compaq LTE 5280 will remain in business.


^{Photo: Patrick Gosling}