McLaren takes its first ever Internship, the student from New Zealand will work at the Woking centre.

McLaren Automotive has awarded its first international internship to a student from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. 

Following in the footsteps of the McLaren founder, Bruce McLaren, Andrew McLaren (no relation), a third-year student in the Faculty of Engineering studying Mechatronics Engineering, will spend nine weeks at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, working alongside the company’s Research and Development engineers.

Nearly 60 years beforehand, the McLaren founder, Bruce McLaren, travelled to England on a similar ‘Driver to Europe’ scholarship to pursue his motorsport aspirations and founded his own racing company in 1963. 

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Bruce McLaren studied at the Auckland University of Technology and was an accomplished engineer and innovator as well as a successful racing driver.

Andrew McLaren was born in Dargaville, New Zealand and attended Dargaville High School before starting his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics. Mechatronics is a mix of mechanical, electrical and computer engineering.

Andrew McLaren’s particular focus is in the Research and Development of future products, and especially the company’s efforts to reduce the emissions of the next generation of sports and super cars. 

Commenting on the internship, Andrew said: “I can’t wait, it’s a field that is very hard to get into because there is very little opportunity in New Zealand, so I thought I would never get a chance like this. 

I would love to be at the forefront of that kind of innovative thinking. I’d really like to do something that would benefit society,” Andrew continued.

Commenting on the internship, Brand Ambassador for McLaren Automotive and daughter of Bruce, Amanda McLaren said: “I’m delighted to welcome Andrew to McLaren Automotive to continue his education. 

Even though my father passed away many years ago, the connection between McLaren and New Zealand still remains very strong and the parallels in both of their early careers is especially poignant.”

USA - Ford Motor Company to offer a Limited Edition 1966 Le Mans Winning GT40 inspired new GT '66 Heritage Ed'.

• All-new Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition with unique black and silver-stripe livery celebrates 1966 Le Mans-winning GT40 Mark II race car driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon  
• Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition honoring historic No. 2 race car limited to 2017 model year only
• Limited-edition Ford GT  features exclusive race-number graphics, and unique interior colors, materials and appointments

The all-new 2017 Ford GT will be available in a limited-edition Heritage theme honoring the GT40 Mark II driven to victory by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon at Le Mans in 1966 – part of the historic 1-2-3 Ford GT sweep. The car will feature unique interior and exterior color themes, and an exclusive wheel finish.

“Celebrating the anniversary of Ford’s historic victories at Le Mans has always been a part of the return of the Ford GT,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, product development, and chief technical officer. “The 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition is a stunning tribute to the car that kicked off Ford’s string of Le Mans victories in 1966.”

The Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition features a Shadow Black exterior in either gloss or matte finish with silver stripes and exposed carbon fiber package. The car sports Frozen White #2 hood and door graphics, and 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels in a gold satin clearcoat with black lug nuts.

The interior of the limited edition model wraps the Ford GT carbon-fiber seats in Ebony leather, with pillowed inserts and plow-through stitching, and the seats’ head restraints and the steering wheel are debossed with the Ford GT logo. The instrument panel, pillars and headliner also features an Ebony-leather wrap, with gold appliqués on the instrument panel, the seat’s X-brace and shift paddles. Like the 1966 race car, the steering wheel is leather wrapped, with seat belts featuring a unique blue webbing.

Rounding out the modifications to the Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition are a unique serialized identification plate, the #2 interior door graphic, and exposed matte carbon fiber door sills, air register pods and center console.

Garen Nicoghosian, exterior design manager for the car, says the team set out to highlight where it all started with the Ford GT. “While the looks are distinctly based on the GT40 Mark II race car,” he says, “we’ve accentuated new styling cues to provide a modern interpretation.”

The Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition can be viewed at FordGT.com using the configuration tool. Limited quantities will be available for the 2017 model year only.

McLaren 650S Can-Am celebrates the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Can-Am racing season.

• 650S Can-Am celebrates the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Can-Am racing season
• Unique design created by the bespoke division of McLaren, MSO, and inspired by the McLaren Can-Am racers of the 1960s
• Strictly limited to only 50 examples globally, all based on the 650S Spider, and priced from £255,850
• Learn more about the 650S Can-Am, and the racing heritage of McLaren, at cars.mclaren.com/650S-Can-Am

McLaren established itself throughout the 1960s and 70s as a world-beating force in one of the most extreme forms of motorsport, Can-Am, winning five consecutive championships between 1967 and 1971. 

In honour of the 50th anniversary of the 1966 inaugural season, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has created the limited production 650S Can-Am which takes its inspiration from the race cars of this golden age of motorsport. 

The 650S Can-Am can be commissioned now priced at £255,850 with deliveries set to commence in the spring of 2016, 50 years on from the first race at Mont Tremblant, Canada.  Just 50 examples will be produced globally, all based on the 650S Spider. 

The Can-Am series, or Canadian-American Challenge Cup, was a no-holds-barred battle of power and speed around some of the most iconic circuits in North America and Canada.  It attracted the best drivers of the time including Graham Hill, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart and, of course, Bruce McLaren.  

The championship started in 1966, only a year after Bruce McLaren Motor Racing was established and in the series that followed, the young Kiwi became one of most successful names in the sport.

Key to the success of the McLaren Can-Am racers was the use of the latest technologies and materials.  This principle is carried through to today’s 650S Can-Am.  

Where lightweight materials such as aluminium and mallite were used in the construction of yesterday’s racers, the modern-day celebration features extensive carbon fibre not least in the construction of its lightweight MonoCell chassis.  

A carbon fibre retractable hard top features for the first time while further carbon fibre is used for the bonnet, Airbrake, front splitter, rear bumper centre, door blades and 650S Can-Am branded sill cover.  MSO has also created a unique set of lightweight forged alloy wheels inspired by those of the 1960s racers with a gloss-black finish on each of the five spokes and a diamond cut rim. 

Held in place by titanium bolts, the wheels are shod with Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres.  Carbon ceramic brakes with black painted callipers are standard equipment.

Further unique features inspired by the iconic Can-Am racers include carbon fibre louvered front wings and a new quad-exit, polished stainless steel exhaust system. 

The louvres are designed to reduce pressure over the front wheels and increase downforce, while the four circular tailpipes at the rear of the car housed within a new visual carbon fibre rear grille echo the aggressive and purposeful throttle trumpets of the historic models.  They also provide the 650S Can-Am with a unique soundtrack.

Like the 650S Spider, this limited production model features the award-winning 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 which produces 650PS (641bhp) and 678Nm (500 lb ft) of torque. Performance and economy figures are just as exhilarating: zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint takes a mere three seconds and its top speed is 204 mph (329 km/h).  

The 650S Can-Am is offered in three bold colours. The launch colour, Mars Red, is directly inspired by the M1B raced by Bruce McLaren and his teammate Chris Amon in the debut season. The second colour, Papaya Spark, is a modern and metallic take on the famous Can-Am racing McLaren Orange.  

The final option is Onyx Black which is similar to the base colour used by many of the McLaren customer teams in the later seasons.  Each is additionally available with a corresponding racing livery to give an even closer visual association with the historic Can-Am series. 

Inside, the standard sports seats are upholstered with leather and Alcantara® which complement the exterior.  Carbon fibre naturally features extensively throughout the cabin while a further bespoke Can-Am touch is the unique dedication plaque on the driver’s door. 

Commenting on the 650S Can-Am, Paul Mackenzie, Executive Director of McLaren Special Operations explains: ‘Can-Am racing is a major part of McLaren heritage, and this latest model from MSO pays homage to the cars and the racers who played a key role in making the championship such a spectacle during the 1960s and 70s.  

The championship was a true test of the engineering ability, driving talent and bravery of Bruce and his teammates, which led them to secure five consecutive championships.

‘The 650S Can-Am is a modern day interpretation with a mixture of functional design features taken from the all-conquering models, combined with the lightest and most pioneering materials available, as was the case with the race cars. The extensive use of lightweight visual carbon fibre, including for the retractable hard top, adds to car’s dramatic appearance and with the roof down, drivers are treated to a stirring V8 soundtrack just as Bruce and his teammates enjoyed.’

GOODWOOD REVIVAL - Ford to showcase the New Mustang along with the Anniversary of the Transit.

 The all-new Ford Mustang makes its UK debut in right-hand drive form at this year’s Goodwood Revival, before the first cars arrive in Ford Store dealerships later this year.

The Ford Mustang was launched in 1965 and is now officially on sale in the UK for the first time in its 50-year history. A right-hand drive Ford Mustang convertible will be on Ford’s stand at the ‘Earls Court’ exhibition at Goodwood Revival throughout the weekend.

The Earls Court exhibition takes visitors back in time to see the new Ford Mondeo Vignale Hybrid, positioned as a futuristic concept car, alongside “today’s” Ford Zodiac, the luxury family car of the 1960s.

This year also marks 50 years of Ford Transit, the UK’s best-selling commercial vehicle since its launch, with one of the earliest examples from 1965 completing the ‘Earls Court’ line up.

Ford is also taking part in a tribute parade to 1966 Le Mans winner and Formula 1 driver, Bruce McLaren, who drove the winning GT40 at Ford’s “1-2-3” Le Mans victory in 1966, alongside co-driver, Chris Amon. Ford announced its return to Le Mans earlier this year with a new GT race car that will compete in the competition 50 years on from that famous win.

2015 marks the 45^th anniversary of Bruce McLaren’s death, and Goodwood Revival will pay tribute to the late racing driver through the Bruce McLaren tribute parade, taking place each day throughout the Revival weekend.

Ford’s two historic GT40s will be in action throughout the weekend as course cars operating between races and practice sessions, on display in the vehicle assembly area in-between and with one car supporting the Bruce McLaren tribute parade.