Steve Nichols Interview on the MP4/4
Posted: 28 Dec 2021, 21:34
I've seen a particularly interesting video which features an interview with Steve Nichols on the development of the McLaren MP4/4, which can be found here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mz9nAzsLXU
As you might know, there were some arguments that flared up back in September when Murray alleged that others were taking away credit from him for the MP4/4, accusing individuals such as Nichols of "living off his reputation" on the matter (for a discussion on that, you can refer to https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arti ... 4-4-claims).
On that basis, Nichols has now gone on record to present his side of the story - the video that I link to is the shorter version of his interview with James Elsom, but there is also a longer version available. What is interesting is that, as part of that video, they discuss the book that was written by Ian Bamsey about the MP4/4, which helped to form the public image of Murray and his association with the MP4/4.
However, it seems that a lot of McLaren personnel were angry that the book by Bamsey basically gave all the credit to Murray, as it seems that Bamsey based his book almost entirely off interviews with just Murray. In that video, James publishes the letter which was written in 1990 and co-signed by 15 McLaren personnel, where they undertook a thorough critique of Bamsey's article, with those staff pretty much demolishing the entire article that Bamsey wrote.
Now, as noted by Motorsport Magazine, one thing we have to be careful of is that both Murray and Nichols are, to different degrees, aiming to utilise their reputation as the originator of the MP4/4 to promote their new business ventures in the automotive world. Still, I do have to say that, when looking at the points that were raised by those McLaren staff in that letter, I am persuaded by their claims that Murray probably has been overselling his importance in developing the MP4/4.
As you might know, there were some arguments that flared up back in September when Murray alleged that others were taking away credit from him for the MP4/4, accusing individuals such as Nichols of "living off his reputation" on the matter (for a discussion on that, you can refer to https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arti ... 4-4-claims).
On that basis, Nichols has now gone on record to present his side of the story - the video that I link to is the shorter version of his interview with James Elsom, but there is also a longer version available. What is interesting is that, as part of that video, they discuss the book that was written by Ian Bamsey about the MP4/4, which helped to form the public image of Murray and his association with the MP4/4.
However, it seems that a lot of McLaren personnel were angry that the book by Bamsey basically gave all the credit to Murray, as it seems that Bamsey based his book almost entirely off interviews with just Murray. In that video, James publishes the letter which was written in 1990 and co-signed by 15 McLaren personnel, where they undertook a thorough critique of Bamsey's article, with those staff pretty much demolishing the entire article that Bamsey wrote.
Now, as noted by Motorsport Magazine, one thing we have to be careful of is that both Murray and Nichols are, to different degrees, aiming to utilise their reputation as the originator of the MP4/4 to promote their new business ventures in the automotive world. Still, I do have to say that, when looking at the points that were raised by those McLaren staff in that letter, I am persuaded by their claims that Murray probably has been overselling his importance in developing the MP4/4.