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Museum gets hands on Lewis's Formula 1 car
Mark Prigg11 Mar 2009
LEWIS Hamilton's Formula1 car was is moved into "pole position" at the Science Museum.
The McLaren MP4-21 that Hamilton used as a test driver in 2006 will form the centrepiece of a Formula1 exhibition.
The free display will be one of the biggest collections of racing car technology in Britain.
It will also showcase objects developed from Formula1 cars, including a hi-tech baby buggy based on the car's cockpit, an all-terrain carbon fibre wheelchair and even a fly-fishing rod. The exhibition opens today, as Hamilton is preparing to begin the defence of his World Championship in Australia this month.
Museum chiefs hope the show will demonstrate how British engineers have revolutionised the sport.
The car at the heart of the exhibition was built by McLaren Racing for the 2006 season. It is made up of more than 11,000 components and took 16 months to develop and build. It is the car which opened the doors to Hamilton's Formula1 career.
Speaking at the launch today, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis said he hoped the exhibition would inspire "the next generation of Britons to embrace science".
Reader views (4)
I agree with Chris. It depends on the car AND the driver. I saw the car today. It looks really good. Very different to the cars now. I think that Lewis is a very good driver, but I'm not sure that he'll beat Schumakers title. I wish he would though!
- Priya Pereira, London, England, 16/03/2010 16:38
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Keith in Luton - it takes an outstanding car AND driver to win a Formula 1 Championship. Anyone with any knowledge of Lewis Hamilton's career over the last ten years or more could not fail to recognise that he is an outstanding racing driver.
And he's British - so let's celebrate his achievement and stop being churlish.
- Chris, Dorking, UK, 16/03/2010 15:38
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Keith what a load of twaddle. If that was the case then why did his team mate not come in second place ? Yes the car is a lot to do with it but without the skill of the driver it is simply a machine. Lewis deserves his championship win and I predict him beating Schumakers title record!
- Ducan Walker, Ex Peckham now Thailand, 16/03/2010 15:38
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It is right and proper that the car and not the driver should get all the plaudits for what is, after all , a constructors competition. Any one of two dozen drivers would have been champion had thay driven this outstanding motor car
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 16/03/2010 15:38
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