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McLaren commemorates anniversary of death of founder Bruce McLaren

2 June 2022 at 14:05
Last update 2 June 2022 at 14:43
  • GPblog.com

Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the death of Bruce McLaren, former Formula One driver and founder of the McLaren Formula One team. On June 2, 1970, McLaren crashed a Can-Am bolide during a test at the Goodwood Circuit in England. McLaren was only 32 years old, but his team still exists.

McLaren as a racing driver

On August 30, 1937, McLaren was born in Auckland, New Zealand. At an early age, he develops an interest in cars and a career in motor racing proved inevitable. In 1958, McLaren made his Formula One debut for Cooper at the German Grand Prix. He finishes fifth, but gets no points because he participated in the race with a Formula 2 car. That year McLaren also participated in the Moroccan Grand Prix, in which he finished thirteenth.

In 1959, McLaren was at the start of a Grand Prix for the first time with an actual Formula 1 car. In Monaco he finished fifth and scored his first points. At Silverstone, the New Zealander is on the podium for the first time and later that year McLaren takes his first victory at Sebring during the United States Grand Prix. In 1960, McLaren experiences his best year as a driver. With a victory in Argentina and five more podium finishes, he is second in the championship behind teammate Jack Brabham.

McLaren as a manufacturer

Meanwhile, in his years with Cooper as a driver, McLaren worked on his own Formula 1 car. In 1966, the time came and McLaren appeared with his own chassis at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix, in which he crashed out. However, the first points are already obtained in Great Britain with a sixth place, followed by a fifth place in America.

When Denny Hulme became the second driver at McLaren in 1968, things really started to go well for the team. McLaren finished second in the Constructors' Championship that season and took three victories. McLaren's Formula 1 racing career ended in 1970, but the team's greatest successes were yet to come. Bruce was killed on June 2 when he crashed his Can-Am car into a concrete wall at high speed.