the M26E. He enlarged the sidepods for the ground effect venturis, redesigned the suspension and added smaller wings front and rear, but there was no improvement in the cars' form and without a test driver to sort the cars' issues, the team's fortunes sunk even further. The M26 was retired after a couple of runs in early 1979. The slow decline of McLaren had begun and it would not be until 1981 that the team would win again. In all, the M26 won three races and scored 86 points in its career. In 1980 Tiga rebuilt an M26 as a full ground effects car and it was re-engined with a five-litre Chevrolet engine and raced as a Formula 5000. Alfredo Costanzo used this car to win the 1981 Australian Drivers' Championship. In 2009 Bobby Verdon-Roe won the FIA Historic Formula One Championship driving a McLaren M26. Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap) * All points in scored using the McLaren M23* 21 points in scored using the McLaren M23* All points in scored using the McLaren M28 and McLaren M29 References External links McLaren Formula One cars 1976 Formula One season cars 1977 Formula One season cars 1978 Formula One season cars 1979 Formula One season cars Formula 5000 cars