McLaren Group

The McLaren Group, based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking in the United Kingdom, is a group of companies created by Ron Dennis, described by the International Herald Tribune as "a small conglomerate". The Group was originally formed from the team established by New Zealander Bruce McLaren in 1963 and is now focused around the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One Racing Team. The company hopes to expand its market from Formula One to manufacturing cars as it prepares to launch the successor to the McLaren F1, the McLaren MP4-12C. In recent years, the group has branched out to other precision manufacturing areas, such as motorized devices for the solar and wind industries.

Beginnings of McLaren

Bruce McLaren started the Woking-based McLaren Formula One team in 1966. Teddy Mayer took over direction of the group following Bruce McLaren's death while testing a Can-am series car in 1970. Mayer subsequently lead the McLaren to their first World Constructors' Championship in 1974 with Brazilian driver Emerson Fittipaldi, who also won the World Drivers' Championship that year.

Beginning of car manufacturing (1992–present)

In 1992 McLaren began producing its first road car, the McLaren F1, which had many similarities to its F1 car. In total 106 were produced from 1992–1998, and even though it has been out of production for 11 years, there are still few cars faster than the F1. Among those that are faster...
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