Few results in modern endurance racing carry the weight of 10–11 June 1995, when five McLaren F1 GTRs swept into the top five at Le Mans against purpose-built prototypes. Car No. 59, entered by Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing under the Ueno Clinic banner, led that charge outright. This die-cast model at 1:43 renders the car as it appeared during the nocturnal hours of the race — headlights on, black and grey metallic livery cutting through the dark.
Gordon Murray's Vision
The McLaren F1 GTR is a competition derivative of Gordon Murray's F1 road car, built for the BPR Global GT Series and Le Mans. Its heart is a naturally aspirated V12 of 6.1 litres, slightly detuned for endurance racing. The GTR dominated the 1995 BPR season before arriving at the Circuit de la Sarthe, where five cars finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th overall — a sweep that no manufacturer fielding a GT car against prototypes had matched before or since.
The Ueno Clinic Livery and a Historic 1995 Le Mans
Car No. 59 carried a black and grey metallic livery with Ueno Clinic branding for its Japanese-backed Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing entry. Yannick Dalmas, JJ Lehto and Masanori Sekiya shared the wheel across 24 hours, giving McLaren its first and, to date, only outright win at Le Mans. Sekiya simultaneously became the first Japanese driver to take the overall victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe — a landmark that gives the No. 59 livery significance well beyond the broader GTR story.
IXO Models 1:43 — The Night Version
This replica is made by IXO Models in die-cast metal at 1:43 scale. The defining specification is the night version detail: race headlights are rendered in their illuminated state, placing the model in the context of the endurance hours after sunset on 10 June 1995. The black and grey metallic livery is faithfully reproduced, including Ueno Clinic branding.
Frequently asked questions
What race did car No. 59 win?
Car No. 59 won the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans outright, driven by Yannick Dalmas, JJ Lehto and Masanori Sekiya for Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing under the Ueno Clinic sponsorship.
What makes the night version different from a standard release?
The night version depicts the car with its race headlights in an illuminated state, representing the appearance of the No. 59 during the nocturnal phase of the 24-hour race — a detail absent on day-version editions.
Who manufactured this 1:43 scale model and what material is it made from?
The model is produced by IXO Models and is made from die-cast metal at a scale of 1:43.
Why is Masanori Sekiya's involvement historically significant?
Sekiya became the first Japanese driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright. His co-victory with Dalmas and Lehto in 1995 remains a landmark in both Japanese motorsport history and Le Mans history.
