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Mc LarenMcLaren, founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren (1937–1970), is a motor racing team based in Woking, Surrey, England. McLaren is best known as a Formula One constructor, but has also competed in the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, Canadian-American Challenge Cup, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. The current team was formed by the merger of the original Bruce McLaren Racing Team with the Project 4 team in 1981, and is currently managed by Ron Dennis as part of McLaren Racing, a member of the McLaren Group, which also controls companies such as the McLaren Automotive road car division.
McLaren is one of the most successful teams in Formula One, having won more Grands Prix than any constructor except Ferrari and numerous World Drivers' and World Constructors' Championships. When account is taken of the period of competition, McLaren emerge as the most successful team with 11 drivers' and 8 constructors' championships since 1966.
McLaren Cars was established in the early 90’s by the famous Formula One racing team to produce the F1 road car. The Gordan Murray-designed supercar was extremely successful in terms of reputation but high price and lack of an efficient production method (due to the sophisticated design) resulted in just 100 cars produced in 3 years. In 1996, after the 100th car rolled out, the company was effectively closed down.
In mid-1999, Mercedes-Benz asked its motor racing partner to develop and build its SLR concept car using the carbon fiber experience. As a result, £300 million was injected into the McLaren group, including £130 million to be spent on the SLR project. In return DaimlerChrysler took 40% shares of McLaren group. The McLaren Cars is therefore revived. Expect the new car to be ready in 2003.
2007
The 2007 season sees Fernando Alonso replace Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton replace Juan Pablo Montoya and Vodafone join as title sponsor. As Vodafone McLaren Mercedes the team launched their new car, the MP4-22, and driver line-up on 15 January 2007 in Valencia, Spain.
During the winter testing period, the MP4-22 remained consistently near the top of the timesheets for all circuits involved. All round reliability of the car also appears to have improved, with, according to the team, just one engine failure (which occurred after the end of its operational lifespan).[citation needed]
The MP4-22 has shown promise in the early part of the season, with Fernando Alonso driving it to victory in his second race for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. This was the first race win for the team since the Japanese Grand Prix in October 2005 and the 41st one-two victory for McLaren.
After coming second in the Bahrain Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton became the only driver in history to score podium finishes in each of his first three World Championship Formula 1 races. This race was also the first in which he finished ahead of his multiple title-winning team-mate, who struggled throughout the Grand Prix and finished 5th.
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