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

^{Photo: Patrick Gosling}

This is a Compaq LTE 5280 laptop of the early 90s with a custom-made conditional access system card - a hardware-software mechanism for accessing the encoded signal from McLaren F1 systems. In 2016, the McLaren Automotive team - one of the most advanced technology and automotive companies in the world - continues to use such laptops and DOS-based programs to service hundreds of McLaren F1 supercars, each of which costs $ 12 million or more.

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) workshop ) differs from others. 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 was engaged in servicing Formula 1 cars, until the company decided to enter a new market for commercial sports cars, where it challenged Ferrari. Now MSO has another difficult task - servicing the remaining McLaren F1 supercars.

The sports car was produced from 1992 to 1998, a total of 106 cars were produced.



Of the 106 vehicles, only six were destroyed naturally.



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

The remaining 100 are in service.

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 carbon monocoque monocoque body. It was designed by the legendary Formula 1 designer Gordon Murray. The car has an amazing engine BMW Motorsport V12. Thanks to this 630 horsepower monster engine, McLaren F1 is now considered the fastest naturally aspirated sports car in the world. The record was established in 1998 and is still not broken.


^{Photo: Patrick Gosling}

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


<sup>Photo: Patrick Gosling


Photo: Patrick Gosling</sup>

Why is McLaren spending thousands of dollars buying ancient laptops with a specific Compaq LTE 5280?

“We need these specific Compaq laptops, because a custom-made conditional access card works with them. - One of the engineers at MSO explained. “This card is the interface between the laptop software (for 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 becoming less reliable and more difficult to find.”

Until they develop a new interface, the hard workers Compaq LTE 5280 will remain in business.


^{Photo: Patrick Gosling}