50 years later: McLaren salutes the memory of its founder Bruce

On June 2, 1970 at 12:19 p.m. UK time, Bruce McLaren leaves the stands at the Goodwood circuit to test one of his McLaren M8Ds which he is preparing to enter in the Can-Am championship. Alas, the founder of the eponymous brand, once a younger winner in the Grands Prix, also victorious in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and in Can-Am, will not return, victim of an accident after the sudden loss of bodywork elements leading to a violent exit from the track.   

Bruce was only 32 years old. But as this multi-faceted talent said: « Life is not measured in years but in achievements ». In this respect, McLaren had clearly succeeded in life.  

Born in Auckland in 1937 into a family that owned a garage and a gas station, young Bruce suffered from Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease which forced him to often remain bedridden due to a painful hip and a leg shorter than the other.

This did not prevent him from finding a passion in motorsport which led him to distinguish himself in local championships where his driving skills ended up catching the eye of a certain Jack Brabham, then on tour in the Antipodes.

McLaren then headed to Europe and wasted no time in securing a place within the Cooper factory team in Formula 1 where he supported “Black Jack” from the 1959 season after a convincing debut in Formula 2 the previous season. That same year, he then became the youngest Grand Prix winner in history by winning in the United States at the age of 22 years and 104 days.

Three other successes followed over the following decade, including a final one at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix at the end of a breathtaking and historic finale as McLaren wins at the wheel of a car who carries his name. (UPDATE: An attentive reader reminded us that Jack Brabham won with a car of his creation at the 1970 South African Grand Prix, thank you for his vigilance!).

In the meantime, the intrepid New Zealander has given substance to his desire for independence founding Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd in 1963, even if he continued to defend Cooper's colors until the end of the 1965 season. 

Workaholic, McLaren multiple projects on and off the track. In 1966, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with his compatriot Chris Amon taking a hat-trick of Ford GT40s. The following year, he became champion of the Can-Am category for the first time behind the wheel of a formidable McLaren M6A. A title that he won again in 1969, this time with a McLaren M8B.

The 1970 season of this very popular series in the United States and Canada will begin barely 2 weeks after the death of McLaren and the team will pay tribute to the memory of its deceased founder in the most beautiful way with a victory for the American Dan Gurney, another ultra-versatile talent, called in as a replacement. 

Success in F1 would soon materialize with a first Drivers-Constructors double in 1974 thanks to the Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi. The McLaren team has to date 12 Drivers' titles, 8 Manufacturers' crowns, and 182 victories in the premier category, making them the 2nd most successful team in history behind Ferrari. 

This Thursday, June 2, 2020, a private ceremony took place in Woking to honor the memory of the driver-engineer-designer-team boss. In the presence of his daughter Amanda, 50 candles were lit and a human-sized bronze statue was unveiled in the heart of the McLaren Technology Center nestled in Surrey. 

« June 2 is always a date full of emotions and it is even more so this year, Amanda commented. It's very moving to see my father looking after McLaren and I know he would have been very proud of the achievements achieved in his name ». 

Zak Brown, current CEO of McLaren Racing, welcomed « the competitor, the innovator, and the leader » who was Bruce McLaren. 50 years after his death, and despite the current difficulties the brand is going through due to the Covid-19 crisis, his legacy remains more than ever a source of inspiration.