McLaren gears up to celebrate 50 years of performance

Filed under: Motorsports, McLaren



It was back in 1963 that 26-year-old Bruce McLaren founded Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd. in London with no more than a handful of dedicated employees. Today, nearly fifty years later, the McLaren Group employs more than 2,000 and is credited with developing, manufacturing and racing some of the world's greatest supercars on a global stage.

Early this September, the company will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Even though Bruce is no longer around (he was killed in 1970 when his Can-Am car failed on the track and sent him into a bunker at speed), considering what the company has accomplished over the past five decades it is apparent that his dream has not been lost with those currently at the helm.

Here are some impressive facts about McLaren:

• McLaren won the Indy 500 for the first time in 1970, 1974 and 1976.
• The McLaren Formula One team has led more than 10,000 racing laps, and won 182 races.
• Every single Formula One car today relies on McLaren Electronics' standardized ECUs.
• Introduced in 1993, the McLaren F1 continues to be the world's fastest naturally aspirated production car.
• McLaren will open its 50th retail dealership this year, selling its MP4-12C and MP4-12C Spyder road cars.
• The company's latest flagship, the all-new P1 shown in the gallery, is set for introduction later this year.

Pictured above is the 1969 McLaren M7C, one of its iconic papaya orange-liveried grand prix cars, parked in front of a 2013 McLaren MP4-12C Spider. Scroll down below for a well-deserved self-congratulatory press release.Continue reading McLaren gears up to celebrate 50 years of performance

McLaren gears up to celebrate 50 years of performance originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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