Autoblog

McLaren boss Ron Dennis' license suspended in court

Noah Joseph — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

As head of the McLaren Group, Ron Dennis has been responsible for some devastatingly fast cars. Like the iconic McLaren F1 supercar, and the new MP4-12C that succeeds it - not to mention countless championship-challenging grand prix cars. Unfortunately for Ron, though, he won't be able to drive any of them. At least not on the road, anyway, and not for the next six months.

According to reports, Dennis has had his license suspended for half a year after exceeding the number of demerit points allowed. The needle that broke the proverbial camel's back was a recent occurrence in which Dennis drove through a red light.

The McLaren chairman reportedly admitted having gone through the traffic light, claiming that he needed to do so in order to avert a collision with a friend's car following behind, but unsuccessfully argued that he needed his license for his work and family life. If only McLaren had any skilled drivers - say, a couple of former world champions, for example - to chauffeur Dennis around until he gets his license back.

[Source: Autosport]

McLaren boss Ron Dennis' license suspended in court originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Senna documentary debuts at Sundance

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos

Ayrton Senna biopic trailer - Click above for to watch video after the jump

When Ayrton Senna died at 34, he left a gaping hole in a sport that's cherished by tens of millions around the world. Seventeen years later, the documentary about his life entitled Senna has finally been shown to crowds at the Sundance Film Festival after a long gestation period, and the early reviews are glowing.

Screenwriter and Executive Producer Manish Pandey shared with the Sundance audience that he already showed the film to Ron Dennis, current chairman of McLaren Automotive and former boss of the successful McLaren Formula One racing team. Dennis is a tough man, known for being emotionless and extremely efficient with his time. However, after watching Senna, Dennis reportedly cried for 10 minutes and then spent the next two hour discussing the most un-tamed racing driver the world has ever known.

Follow the jump to watch a trailer for the film. With any luck, this documentary's showing at Sundance has already bagged it a distributor for wider release in the U.S.

[Source: LA Times, YouTube]

Continue reading Senna documentary debuts at Sundance

Senna documentary debuts at Sundance originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren announces comprehensive restructuring, management changes

Noah Joseph — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, MISC

Fiat and Ferrari aren't the only ones undergoing a comprehensive restructuring as longtime rival (both on and off the track) McLaren has announced a major reorganization of its operations and several management changes.

The biggest shift for McLaren is the split between McLaren Automotive (which will produce the new MP4-12C supercar) and the McLaren Group (which operates the racing team). The roadcar unit is being split off into its own operation, based out of the McLaren Production Centre, which shares its grounds with the McLaren Technology Centre next door.

The two companies will now report to two separate boards, which will in turn be accountable to separate shareholders. But to keep things sufficiently confusing for the rest of us, most of the key players - including executive chairman Ron Dennis, team principal Martin Whitmarsh, CFO Andy Myers, incoming legal counsel Tim Mumane and shareholders Mansour Ojjeh and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Essa al-Khalifa - will continue to serve on the boards for both companies. Richard Lapthorne, who was until now serving as non-executive chairman of the single unit before the split, will be leaving the company. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: McLaren]

Continue reading McLaren announces comprehensive restructuring, management changes

McLaren announces comprehensive restructuring, management changes originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren boss calls Veyron "junk," claims Top Gear race with F1 staged

Noah Joseph — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Bugatti

Ron Dennis with the McLaren MP4-12C - Click above for high-res image gallery

When you've been responsible for as many Formula One World Championships and devastatingly fast supercars - including the new McLaren MP4-12C (pictured above) - as Ron Dennis, you're entitled to speak your mind... and for others to listen up. The executive chairman and part owner of the McLaren Group, Dennis has earned a reputation for his outspoken opinion, and this time directed his criticism toward the venerable Bugatti Veyron.

In a recent interview, Dennis characterized the Veyron as a "piece of junk" and "pig ugly". Why don't you tell us how you really feel, Ron?

The speed guru went on to allege that the race staged by Top Gear between the Veyron and McLaren's own venerable F1 supercar on the streets of Abu Dhabi was exactly that... staged. According to Dennis, the McLaren had the Bugatti handily beat on every run, and that the video footage was edited to make it seem like the Veyron was the quicker of the two. Check it out after the jump and decide for yourself.

[Source: Wheels24.co.za]

Continue reading McLaren boss calls Veyron "junk," claims Top Gear race with F1 staged

McLaren boss calls Veyron "junk," claims Top Gear race with F1 staged originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren could develop racing version of MP4-12C for privateers

Noah Joseph — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, MISC, Racing

McLaren MP4-12C GTR Longtail renderings - Click above for high-res image gallery

When a world-championship racing team unveils a new supercar, some inevitable questions are bound to follow. In the case of the McLaren MP4-12C, people want to know if the company plans on racing it. Seems like logical enough a question, especially considering that McLaren's racing experience extends beyond Formula One, most notably the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans where a McLaren F1 GTR pipped the prototypes to claim overall victory.

According to McLaren chief Ron Dennis, the company is not planning their own racing campaign for the MP4. But having learned from the F1 project, which was never designed as a race car but was later adapted to the purpose following demand from racing teams, Dennis suggested that the company could offer and support competition spec versions of the car for privateer entries.

While it remains a question mark as to which series the car might be best suited, neither the FIA GT1 World Championship nor Le Mans (and its associated series around the world) would seem out of the realm of possibility. Maybe those renderings of long-tail MP4-12Cs weren't so far-fetched after all.

Gallery: Rendered: McLaren MP4-12C GTR

[Source: Autosport]

McLaren could develop racing version of MP4-12C for privateers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren Automotive officially launches itself and MP4-12C supercar [w/video]

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, UK

McLaren MP4-12C - Click above for high-res image gallery

At a press conference held at its technology center in the UK this morning, McLaren Automotive officially launched itself into existence as a real, honest-to-goodness automaker. McLaren Automotive chairman Ron Dennis introduced the new MP4-12C by reminding the audience that since McLaren entered Formula One competition in 1966, the team has won 25 percent of all the races that have taken place. McLaren created the first carbon fiber chassis F1 car in 1981 and the first series production road car with a carbon chassis. The now-departed Mercedes-McLaren SLR was the highest-selling carbon fiber chassis road car ever (so far).

The MP4-12C is the next chapter in the story. Dennis emphasized that the MP4-12C and future McLaren products will be engineered, manufactured and most importantly exported from the UK. Dennis repeatedly used the word passion when discussing what McLaren wanted to achieve. Anthony Sheriff, Managing Director of McLaren Automotive discussed the car in more detail. When the program started five years ago, McLaren decided that it needed to be better than its competitors in Italy and Germany. If a customer wanted a car as good as a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche, they could just buy one of those cars.

Continue reading after the jump and stay tuned for live images of the MP4-12C from McLaren's press conference.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C

[Source: McLaren]

Continue reading McLaren Automotive officially launches itself and MP4-12C supercar [w/video]

McLaren Automotive officially launches itself and MP4-12C supercar [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Ron Dennis on the new McLaren MP4-12C

Noah Joseph — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos

Ron Dennis on the McLaren MP4-12C - Click above to watch video after the jump

It's not hard to see who McLaren has in its sights with the new MP4-12C. The supercar was launched only shortly after - and is positioned only slightly higher - than Ferrari's brand-new 458 Italia. And while other automakers have delved into F1, only two current F1 teams have delved into building road-going supercars.

Though it's one thing to surmise such things, it's quite another to hear it explicitly coming from the mouth of the company's chairman. While the outfit might not bear his name, it might as well, because Ron Dennis is, for all intents and purposes, a modern day Enzo Ferrari. Follow the jump to see what he has to say about the new company with twenty years' experience and their first new product.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C

[Source: McLaren]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ron Dennis on the new McLaren MP4-12C

VIDEO: Ron Dennis on the new McLaren MP4-12C originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coming this Wednesday, the McLaren MP4-12C!

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance

1997 McLaren MP4/12 Grand Prix racer

This coming Wednesday, McLaren will finally reveal the followup to its legendary F1 road car, but this weekend, in an interview with the Times of London newspaper, Ron Dennis finally announced the car's name. The supercar which until now had been referred to as the P11 will be dubbed the MP4-12C. That designation draws directly on McLaren's formula heritage where the company's racecars have borne the MP4 designation since 1981. Why the road car is named after the relatively unsuccessful 1997 model is not clear at this point, but perhaps we will learn more this week.

Of course, a name in-and-of-itself doesn't have anything to do with how good the car itself might be. Besides the name, Dennis did drop a few other hints about the car. As with the venerable F1, the chassis of the new supercar is to be made of carbon fiber. This time around, the car has gullwing doors and only two seats, rather than the three staggered thrones of the F1. Features like an automatic variable rate suspension likely means the MP4-12C won't be under the 2,400-pound weight of the F1.

In spite of its immense performance, the only 106 F1s were built over six years including the race cars - for the MP4-12C, McLaren is looking to achieve a much more ambitious target: 1,000 units per year.

[Source: The Times of London | Image: Wikimedia Commons - CC 2.0]

Coming this Wednesday, the McLaren MP4-12C! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Formula 1 fixture Ron Dennis quits McLaren Racing

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Supercars

McLaren F1 doesn't need to cheat to win, but for some reason they keep on doing it - cheating, that is. The team's most recent snafu is being called Liargate, and it has resulted in a McLaren sporting director being sacked, Lewis Hamilton talking of switching teams, Martin Whitmarsh fumbling to right the ship, and everyone expecting the FIA to sock McLaren with a scorching penalty.

The next act in the soap opera involves Ron Dennis. After 43 years in in the sport, the 61-year-old has just announced that he is exiting the company's racing operations, although he is reportedly adamant that the timing of his leaving the team is "purely coincidental." Buzz around the F1 campfire would indicate otherwise, with some suggesting that the move may be designed in part to curry favor with the FIA in hopes of showing the team some mercy during its hearing later this month.

Dennis isn't leaving the McLaren clan altogether, however. He will now work as executive chairman of McLaren automotive, which has been long rumored to be pursuing a new range of sports cars. The first model is still expected to arrive for 2011.

It is a regrettable way for Dennis to end four decades at the second winningest team in F1 history. However, in addition to trying to help the team avoid the FIA's wrath, the move is also expected to make Hamilton and his father much more amenable to remaining in the fold.

[Source: BBC | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

REPORT: Formula 1 fixture Ron Dennis quits McLaren Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pump up the Volume: McLaren to target 4000 sales annually

Noah Joseph — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Supercars, UK

Click above for a high-res gallery of the McLaren P11

With the SLR speeding out of the picture following the debut of the Stirling Moss edition speedster, the only vehicles McLaren will be producing are the handful of Formula One racers it'll need to defend its title this season. But that's about to change, as newly refocused McLaren chief Ron Dennis has revealed in an interview with London's Financial Times.

With an eye towards Ferrari, which manages to sustain its racing efforts on the back of its 60-year experience producing road cars, McLaren plans to expand its sales from it current 100 units per year up to 1000 units annually by 2011 and up to 4,000 in the long-term. However, recognizing that investing in such capacity could be a prohibitively expensive venture, Dennis hinted that production could be outsourced to an independent coachbuilder.

Gallery: McLaren P11 - spy shots

[Source: Financial Times via World Car Fans]

Pump up the Volume: McLaren to target 4000 sales annually originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Dennis steps down from McLaren F1, focusing on supercars

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Supercars

Ron Dennis, the man behind the McLaren-Mercedes F1 team, announced he'll be stepping down from his position on March 1st to concentrate on McLaren's future endeavors. Dennis made it clear during today's press conference that his departure shouldn't be perceived as retirement. On the contrary, Dennis said, "The first thing I'm going to do is work harder." And by "work harder" Dennis means he'll be focusing on the new road-going efforts of McLaren Automotive.

The new McLaren supercar - codenamed the P11 - is slated to hit roads in 2010, with power provided by a 600-hp AMG-sourced 6.2-liter V8. Three different variants will be offered, ranging from a standard road car, a convertible and a race-ready version. McLaren is also rumored to be working on two other models, including a Porsche 911-fighter expected to be priced below $100,000. In this economy, Ron has his work cut out for him.

At the end of February, Dennis will end his 28-year reign at McLaren-Mercedes and hand over the day-to-day operations to current team CEO, Martin Whitmarsh. Thanks to all who tipped in.

[Source: ITV-F1 | Image: Getty/AFP]

Ron Dennis steps down from McLaren F1, focusing on supercars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Fine Print: Hamilton will get his McLaren F1 LM after 3 titles

Noah Joseph — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Supercars, Earnings/Financials, UK, Celebrities, Specialty

Click above for hi-res gallery of the McLaren F1 LM

Now that Lewis Hamilton has secured the Formula One championship, supercar fans around the world are asking when he'll get his hands on that rare McLaren F1 LM. The incredibly valuable supercar - initially reported at $4 million but now apparently worth closer to 8 - was promised to the budding young driver if he won the title. However, the condition was that he win both the drivers title and, together with team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, lock up the constructors' title for the team, as well. Although he won the drivers' championship, the constructors' crown went to arch-rivals Ferrari, but since McLaren chief Ron Dennis is such a good sport, he's renegotiated the terms.

If Hamilton manages to repeat his title victory with a hat-trick - that is, take another two championships - he'll get his hands on the bright orange supercar. That's quite a challenge, but Dennis called it a "small price to pay for three world championships." Indeed, but by then McLaren will have a whole slew of supercars on the market for Lewis to choose from. In the meantime, he'd better keep his head down and focus on the prize.

Gallery: McLaren F1 LM

[Source: F1-Live]

The Fine Print: Hamilton will get his McLaren F1 LM after 3 titles originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: McLaren boss Ron Dennis fired

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Mercedes-Benz

If you thought rumors spread fast among automotive news sites, that's nothing compared to the speculation that spreads like wildfire around racing paddocks. The latest reports suggest that Ron Dennis, who has successfully directed the McLaren F1 team to seven constructors' titles and nine drivers' championships since taking over the team in the early 1980s, has been sacked. Shareholder and engine partner Mercedes-Benz was reportedly angered by Dennis' management of the spy scandal and his failure to secure the championship. Dennis, who recently separated from Lisa, his wife of 22 years and mother of his three children, controls 15% of the McLaren Group, and according to reports, would be replaced by his deputy Martin Whitmarsh.

The reports come from Spanish sports newspaper Marca, which has been highly critical of McLaren since allegations began to surface of the team's mishandling of its ex-driver, Fernando Alonso. According to Marca, however, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will be confirming the reports shortly.

[Source: F1-Live, Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty]

Rumormill: McLaren boss Ron Dennis fired originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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F1: Alonso headed to... McLaren?

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:36:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Fernando Alonso, recently let go from the telenovela known as the McLaren F1 Team, is in a bit of a quandary. He's looking for a team that can keep him at the top of the standings, but he only wants to sign a contract for a year. That's because the teams he really wants to join, Ferrari or BMW-Sauber, can't even think of making a move until the end of 2008 (and in Ferrari's case, really until the end of 2009). However, the only teams he's got a chance of signing with -- Renault, Red Bull, or Toyota -- have unresolved situations, aren't winners, and won't accept the one-year contract stipulation.

Enter McLaren, which still has a cockpit open, but no one worthy to fill it. The driver the team really wants, Nico Rosberg, would require the jaws of life to be pried out of his Williams contract. The only pilots left are unknowns or as yet unproven. But the driver market will open up in a year... so if they could just find a proven winner who only wanted a one-year contract... then maybe... just maybe....

And that's how Spanish newspaper Diario As has come to report that Alonso's camp is in talks with Ron Dennis and McLaren about going back to the team. Alonso's people have, incredibly, engaged in the dialog, but have passed McLaren a list of conditions such as allowing Alonso to decide his race strategy. Nobody believes the reunion is actually going to happen, although more outlandish things have occurred in F1. Be that as it may, the fact that it's gotten this far is what puts the silly in silly season.

[Source: F1-Live]

F1: Alonso headed to... McLaren? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren and Prodrive sitting in a tree, R-A-C-I-N-G

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

F1 panjandrums have been working all year on a suitable definition of the term "non-constructor." If they can get that done soon, and then figure out how to split F1 income among constructors and non, then Prodrive will officially join the 2008 F1 circus.

McLaren and Prodrive have recently signed a "detailed commercial agreement." However, it is being held up due to a lawsuit initiated by Spyker (and supported by Williams) that is now in arbitration. Spyker, an independent full constructor, has argued that allocation of income should be different for Toro Rosso and Super Aguri, since they essentially "buy" cars from other teams. The outcome of that will affect this year's income disbursements as well as next year's.

It isn't revealed yet just how much collaboration there will be between McLaren and Spyker on the chassis-engine package. Regardless, one just hopes McLaren will have a better experience with them than Red Bull and Honda have had with their respective "junior" teams.

[Source: Motor Authority]

McLaren and Prodrive sitting in a tree, R-A-C-I-N-G originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Stepneygate" verdict reached: McLaren stripped of '07 championship points, fined $100 million

Alex Nunez — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:07:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

The ongoing "Stepneygate" espionage scandal that has embroiled Formula 1 this summer has drawn to a conclusion (for the time being, at least), and the World Motor Sport Council has meted out some severe punishment. McLaren F1 has been stripped of all its constructors' championship points for the 2007 season and fined $100,000,000 USD -- a record amount. This puts Ferrari in the points lead and makes them the probable champions this year. The BBC also reports that McLaren must prove that none of its cars are making use of any improperly-obtained Ferrari intellectual property before the beginning of next year's F1 campaign.

McLaren will finish out the current F1 season on the track, and both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have retained their accumulated drivers' championship points. The FIA's findings and the council's reasoning behind its verdict will be released tomorrow. McLaren boss Ron Dennis will apparently wait to see this information before making a final decision on whether he's going to appeal the council's decision, though based on his quotes in the BBC's report, it sounds like his mind's made up, and an appeal is all but inevitable.

Thanks to all who sent tips!

[Source: BBC]

"Stepneygate" verdict reached: McLaren stripped of '07 championship points, fined $100 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: McLaren facing exclusion from 2007 F1 Championship

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:05:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Thursday, September 13th, the World Motor Sport Council will meet to decide on whether McLaren should be punished for industrial espionage in the Stepneygate affair. What had been winding its way to a peaceful conclusion has now been blown back open with the recent revelation that the drivers exchanged information that came from the Ferrari dossier in McLaren's possession.

Some newspapers claim that in the 166 pages of new evidence is enough damaging material that McLaren and its drivers could be excluded from the 2007 F1 World Championship. McLaren boss Ron Dennis has claimed that no one else in the team knew about the dossier -- and this was before it was revealed that the drivers knew. Now it's claimed that not only did the drivers know, but McLaren actually tried some of Ferrari's technical innovations on its car. Ron Dennis is also accused of trying to bring Renault into the affair, but it is unclear how. If things go against McLaren, the Championship-leading team and its drivers could face exclusion from the Championship this year and beyond.

[Source: Daily F1]

Rumormill: McLaren facing exclusion from 2007 F1 Championship originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren wins Hungary GP amid more controversy, could Alonso leave?

Siddharth Raja — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

The claws were out at McLaren during this past weekend's Hungarian F1, with heated exchanges between drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, and team boss Ron Dennis. The latest outbursts come just a week after a preliminary decision in the F1 spy scandal and shows a usually close-knit McLaren team coming apart at the seams.

The latest tiff was triggered by 22-year old Hamilton ignoring radio orders to allow teammate Alonso to pass on the third round of qualifying. This led to a radio swearing match between Hamilton and his boss Ron Dennis, and also spurred Alonso to later hold up his teammate in the pits, eventually costing the Spaniard his pole position and the team its championship points for the event.

Hamilton managed to win the Hungarian F1 GP after a strong challenge from Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, while Alonso finished up in fourth place, not being able to overcome BMW's Nick Heidfeld who took third. Fellow BMW driver Robert Kubica ended in fifth, ahead of Ralf Schumacher in sixth and Nico Rosberg in seventh. Rounding out the top eight was Renault's Heikki Kovalainen, taking the last point in a disappointing race.

The outcome for McLaren is a pair of world-class drivers who are not speaking to each other. While Dennis expects Alonso to finish out his contract, he reportedly would not stop the champion from leaving the team if he refuses to accept the idea that both he and Lewis are equal drivers. Could he return to Renault where he was a proven winner? Time will tell, but for now, Team McLaren is in limbo after a strange and unfortunate weekend of racing.

[Source: Sports Illustrated, Sporting Life]

McLaren wins Hungary GP amid more controversy, could Alonso leave? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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F1 Results: McLaren cleared of wrongdoing in Ferrari tech theft flap

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:24:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari

Remember the case of the former Ferrari Formula 1 tech who shared his company's secrets with rival McLaren-Mercedes? The FIA has announced that it has concluded its investigation into that matter and Team McLaren-Mercedes will not be penalized. Formula 1's governing body held an "extraordinary meeting" of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris today and found that although McLaren did in fact have possession of confidential Ferrari material, there was 'insufficient evidence that it had been used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA Formula 1 World Championship'. So no penalty was given to McLaren-Mercedes.

But the announcement came with a warning. If that information is used "to the detriment of the sport" in the future, the FIA might not be so lenient next time. The suggestion was made that if this were to occur, Ron Dennis and his team would face the 'possibility of exclusion' from the 2007 championship, which they are currently leading. They would also be eliminated from competing in 2008. Disqualification should be a pretty big deterrent, we imagine. Not getting off as easy are the two men at the heart of the issue.

McLaren's chief designer, Mike Coughlan, and Ferrari's former head of performance development, Nigel Stepney, have been 'invited' by the FIA to 'show reasons why they should not be banned from international motor sport for a lengthy period'. Ouch. Should be interesting to hear their responses. We'll keep you posted.

[Source: Crash.net]

F1 Results: McLaren cleared of wrongdoing in Ferrari tech theft flap originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bahrain to take 30 percent stake in McLaren

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:04:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Looks like Bahrain is getting into F1 in a big way. Through the nation's wholly owned Mumtalakat Holding Company, the Kingdom of Bahrain is about to buy a 30% stake in McLaren. Apparently McLaren boss Ron Dennis and Saudi investor Mansour Ojjeh are each selling half their share of the Formula One team. DaimlerChrysler will still have 40% and Dennis and TAG will each still have 15%. No changes are expected in the management team.

This is kind of a big deal after rumors had circulated that Mercedes was in talks to buy the other 60% of McLaren. Some see this as another step for Ron Dennis towards retirement, but he insists that his love of F1 has never been stronger. Chief executive Martin Whitmarsh has already started to assume more control over the past few years, but Dennis probably wants to stick around to see the team reclaim the top spot in the manufacturers' championship. And with two-time defending champion Fernando Alonso in the driver's seat next year, he could get his wish.

[Source: Reuters via Drive.com.au]

Bahrain to take 30 percent stake in McLaren originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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