The MP4/4’s battle at Paul Ricard in 1988

Lewis Hamilton had hoped to show off the stunning MP4/4 McLaren Honda, the car that dominated the championship just over two decades ago with 15 wins from 16 starts, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed today. However, mechanical issues have ended his scheduled run even before it began.

The #12 MP4/4 stormed to the championship in 1988 with Hamilton's hero Ayrton Senna behind the wheel in a frantic, closely fought battle with the sister #11 machine driven Alain Prost.

Hamilton was looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the Steve Nichols / Gordon Murray designed car for the first time, but on the fourth run yesterday, the gearbox failed with former GP2 racer turned sportscar driver Bruno Senna behind the wheel.

"I'm really disappointed not to be driving the McLaren MP4/4 up the Goodwood hill, not only for myself and for the guys at McLaren who worked so hard to prepare it but also, and most importantly, for the Goodwood spectators," Hamilton said.

"I'm really sorry I won't be able to show the Goodwood spectators just what I could have done in a McLaren MP4/4," he continued. "As I say, I was really looking forward to driving it. But it's an old car and, although Bruno managed three runs in it at Goodwood this year already, its gearbox failed on his fourth run."

Hamilton will however be in action today in his championship winning Mercedes-powered MP4-23 as well as the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster.

Earl ALEXANDER
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