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McLaren celebrates 50th anniversary

Bruce McLaren set up his racing team in 1963 © Sutton Images

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McLaren will celebrate its 50th anniversary today by throwing a "celebratory event" for its 2000 members of staff at its base in Woking.

On September 2, 1963 Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Limited was formally incorporated and operated from a small workshop in New Malden, Surrey. 50 years later and it is the second most successful team in the history of Formula One with 182 victories to its name.

"McLaren started as the dream of one man, and it's since grown to encompass the hopes and dreams of more than 2000 men and women, who work as tirelessly as Bruce McLaren himself once did to ensure that everything we do reflects well when compared with everything we've ever achieved," Chairman Ron Dennis said.

"So, our 50th anniversary provides an opportunity for every single McLaren employee to realise that he or she is an utterly crucial part of an organisation with a history and a culture that really mean something. Call it McLaren's DNA, if you like. Call it McLaren's brand continuity, if you prefer. Call it McLaren's corporate culture, if you will. Call it McLaren's undiminished hunger to win in everything we do, and you'd probably be getting closest to what I mean, what I think, and what I feel."

McLaren will also play a part in the London premiere of the new Hollywood movie Rush, which documents the story of James Hunt's 1976 title victory with McLaren. The team will then hold another round of celebrations at next weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

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