Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines Ltd. (previously known as
Mercedes-Ilmor) is a British
Formula One engine manufacturer, owned by
Mercedes-Benz. Since 1995, their engines have powered
McLaren's Formula One cars. For the 2009 season, Mercedes-Benz also supplied the
Brawn GP and
Force India teams with engines. Since 2010, Mercedes supplies McLaren, Force India and the new Mercedes-Benz works team,
Mercedes GP (formed of the Brawn GP team, which Mercedes bought after the end of the 2009 season).
Background
Ilmor was founded by
Mario Illien and
Paul Morgan in 1983, as an independent British
Formula One engine manufacturer. The company name was taken from the surnames of the founders. It originally started building engines for
IndyCars with the money of IndyCar team owner and chassis manufacturer
Roger Penske.
Daimler-Benz acquired
Chevrolet's 25% share of Ilmor in 1993. In 2002
Daimler AG increased its share to 55% and renamed the company
Mercedes-Ilmor. In 2005 Daimler became the sole owner of Ilmor and renamed the company
Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines Ltd.
At the same time the small Special Projects part of the company, which since 2003 had been contracted to design and build
Honda's
Indy Racing League engines, split away to become a separate company, owned by Mario Illien and Roger Penske. This new company, which is totally independent of Mercedes, is once again known as
Ilmor Engineering Ltd.
History
In 1991 Ilmor entered Formula One as the engine supplier to...
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