McLaren International Ltd
| Based in: Woking, Surrey Founded: 1963 (active since 1966) Website: www.mclaren.com Managing director: Ron Dennis Technical Director: Adrian Newey Chief Designer of engines: Mario Illien Director of Engineering: Neil Oatley Chief Designer of chassis: Mike Coughlan |  |
Towards the end of the 1980's McLaren had the world at their feet. Securing the services of both Senna and Prost for 1988, Ron Dennis and his Woking operation took all that was placed before them , winning 15 of the 16 races that year. However what goes around comes around and having lost its all powerful Honda engines and Ayrton Senna the teams was forced to retreat and regroup for a while. Signs at the end of the 1997 suggest that the boys may be back in town.. to stay.
Formed initially for Tasman racing, the team built its first sports cars in 1964 and 1965 before Bruce McLaren, inspired by the efforts of Jack Brabham, left Cooper in order to tackle F1 on his own. His first effort was the M2B, penned by Robin Herd and built in 1966. Unfortunately, it was the first year of the 3.0 litre era and reliable engines were difficult to come by. Bruce had to opt for an underpowered Serenissima unit, although McLaren did manage to sneak into the points at the British Grand Prix. Herd's next effort was the M7, which he designed before leaving for Cosworth. Fitted with the new DFV engine the beast proved a worthy contender in both F1 and Cam-Am circles. It was while testing the latest Can-Am car that Bruce was killed in a crash at Goodwood in 1970. With the help of Denny Hulme the team struggled on and established itself at the top during the mid 1970s clinching the constructor's title in 1974 with Emerson Fittipaldi also bagging the driver's title.
That was the highpoint and a steady decline, interrupted by Hunt's 1976 title, left the team floundering as the decade came to a close and sponsors Marlboro instigated a merger with Ron Dennis's Project Four F2 operation. Teddy Mayer left soon after, whilst with the help of John Barnard's revolutionary carbon- fibre monocoque, McLaren took consecutive world titles in 1984, '85 and '86.
Then came the era of Senna, Prost and Honda. Three more titles went into the trophy cabinet despite the constant infighting between the drivers. Honda withdrew from the sport in 1992, Prost went to Williams and then at the end of 1993 Senna left the team. Young Finnish charger Mika Hakkinen was recruited to fill the gap but despite his quick and spectacular driving style he simply did not have the experience or racecraft to keep the silverware cupboard stocked. A disappointing Peugeot engine did not help matters so when Mercedes approached with a works engine deal Ron Dennis snatched it with both hands. Since 1995 the Woking-Stuttgart partnership has grown in stature and competence, and the Mercedes engine was probably the best part of the car for most of 1997. Hakkinen and Coulthard continued to perfect their art with a brace of wins and a few near misses suggested that they really do have the ability to win races. All that is missing is a chassis capable of matching the best Williams can offer. Enter Adrian Newey, former Williams aerodynamicist and a man who can get downforces out of a packet of peanuts.
Newey's first McLaren was the MP4/13, coupled to a lighter more powerful engine. In addition the team took the brave decision to leave Goodyear one year early and joined forces with Bridgestone. The gambles paid off and 1998 will go down as one of the best season's for the McLaren team. They may not have achieved the dizzy heights of 1988 but Hakkinen was crowned World Champion at Suzuka and the team wrapped up another Constructors' championship. The signs were all there in Melbourne were the boys lapped the entire field before the half-way stage. A handful of mechanical breakdowns mid-season meant that by Austria the championship battle was heating up, as Ferrari and Michael Schumacher won three races on the trot. McLaren always had the better chassis, and Mika Hakkinen made few mistakes, but the car was unreliable in comparison with the Ferrari. Following the Italian Grand Prix, Mika Hakkinen and Schumacher's Ferrari were tied on 80 points each. The championship was won at the final race as a blown tyre put Ferrari out of contention. For 1999, it is a case of more of the same. McLaren are back to their winning ways.
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