Gulf Oil: Memories of Jo Siffert 🎥
LEGENDARY COLORS ARE BACK McLaren and Gulf Oil have entered into a long-term partnership. In the typical Gulf livery, the unforgettable Jo Siffert celebrated long-distance successes with Porsche. Two successful brands in motorsports - McLaren and Gulf Oil - are visibly coming together again. As early as next weekend, at the British GP in Silverstone, the entire McLaren F1 team will be wearing [...]
Two successful brands in motorsport - McLaren and Gulf Oil - are visibly coming together again. As early as next weekend, at the British GP in Silverstone, the entire McLaren F1 team with drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, as well as the entire pit crew, will be wearing the legendary colors of the American mineral oil company.
Longstanding success story
Gulf Oil International's motorsport ties with McLaren had begun in 1968 and lasted until its successes in Formula One and the Can-Am series in 1973. Together, the two partners won a total of 40 races.
In 1990, a decade of shared success began with victory at Le Mans (1995) and the McLaren GTR1 in the famous light blue and orange livery. From next year, Gulf will be McLaren's preferred supplier of lubricants.
The Gulf logo will be on display at McLaren events. Selected customers will be able to have their vehicles painted in the colors of the legendary Le Mans winner.
Two big wins with Jo Siffert
The most prominent driver from Switzerland on cars in Gulf colors was Jo Siffert. In a Porsche 917K from John Wyer's legendary U.S. team, the man from Freiburg won the 1000 kilometers of Spa and Austria in the 1970 sports car season together with Brian Redman. In addition, there were other top finishes with Siffert.
Chassis #024 in Gulf colors became the property of Jo Siffert, who died in an accident in 1971. At his funeral in Fribourg, a black cloth wrapped this car, which was subsequently sold to France.
In 1968 and 1969, John Wyer Automotive Engineering triumphed twice in a row at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the same car and chassis - a Ford GT40 in Gulf livery.
A film released in 2012 looks back at John Wyer's 1970 Gulf Porsche team in historic scenes.
Frenzied movie star
The light blue-orange paint scheme also became known to the general public through its appearance in Steve McQueen's 1971 film "Le Mans." Since then, this sports car has been one of the most valuable models in motorsport history (ampnet/SM).
