While McLaren is based in the UK, the founder of the original marque was of course born in New Zealand. A race-winner from his early teens, Bruce McLaren soon moved through the tiers into Formula Two, before travelling to the UK in 1958 as part of New Zealand’s ‘Driver to Europe’ scheme to expose young talent to championship-winning teams. McLaren’s racing career saw him notch up no fewer than 27 podiums and four outright wins in the Formula One World Championship. Not only that, but in 1966 he and co-driver Chris Amon won the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Ford GT40 Mk II. McLaren would also go on to dominate Can-Am racing at the end of that decade.
