McLaren honours fallen founder

McLaren has celebrated the 40th anniversary of the death of founder Bruce McLaren at its Woking base.

McLaren died on 2 June 1970 while testing a Can-Am car at the Goodwood circuit. He was 32 years old.

To mark the occasion, McLaren employees down tools for a minutes silence at 3.15pm on the McLaren Technology Centre boulevard before the ear-splitting 8.0-litre Chevrolet V8 in the back of one of classic M8D Can-Am cars was revved for a further minute.

Tyler Alexander, who worked with McLaren in the early years of the company, was present for the ceremony alongside executive chairman Ron Dennis.

"The 40th anniversary of Bruce McLaren's death gives us the opportunity to reflect on his legacy, and to appreciate just how much of his original vision still lives on within our team," McLaren Mercedes team principal Martin Whitmarsh said. "Bruce made his name not only as a skilled and disciplined racing driver, but also as a pragmatic engineer with the inspiration, vision and determination to take on and beat the greatest teams in motorsport.

"It's an ethos that still holds true to this day, and one which Ron was careful to foster and promote when he assumed control of the team in 1980. Through Ron's guidance and stewardship, McLaren remains a company that is passionate about technology and engineering, and which is set apart by its keen sense of competition, attention to detail and desire to be the best.

"Bruce's values have seen us maintain a winning legacy throughout six decades of competition, and have rewarded us with victories in the Formula 1 world championship, the North American Can-Am series, the Indy 500, Formula 5000 and the Le Mans 24 Hours. Winning will always be central to the McLaren DNA.

"We are honoured to uphold the McLaren name. And, for many millions of people around the world, the name McLaren is motor racing - there can be no greater testament to Bruce than that."