McLaren Technology Centre

[Super Tourer]

The Queen has officially opened McLaren's new Technology Centre, which will encompass all the McLaren Groups activity including the production of the Mercedes SLR McLaren road car.

As ever, Ron D's fanatical attention to detail and perfection has been put into the centre, leading some observers (inc Adrian Newey - allegedly..) to offer the opinion that focus on the the new project is one reason why the racing team has lost it's edge.

Info on the new centre and images here:http://www.mclaren.com/technologycentre/

[Adam43]

Brian May, Brian May! (oh sorry)

I have the latest RacingLine magazine - it is a mightly impressive. Now it is done it can only be better for the race team's future. will we look back at this period as a blip?

[MADDOG-99]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
Brian May, Brian May! (oh sorry)

I have the latest RacingLine magazine - it is a mightly impressive. Now it is done it can only be better for the race team's future. will we look back at this period as a blip?

Hopefuly.
Doesnt the new place look good, all that glass and interior design, Whatever happened to working in industrial units? hopefuly the plush new surroundings will be inspirational for the tech guys, it would be a shame to have wasted all that money on a new shop if you cant produce the goods!!!

[Super Tourer]

They will certainly have all the resources and no excuses from now on !

[marcus]

what was their excuse before ????

[MADDOG-99]

Originally posted by marcus
what was their excuse before ????

Apparently the extra strain put on the team by the move to new premasis ment they couldnt do their jobs properly or something like that, problems with finding parts etc ... :confused:

[DriverT]

And it was causing certain key team members to take their eyes off the ball. Well, we'll see if this was true, I guess, by their performance in the next couple of years.

[esorniloc]

Originally posted by DriverT
Well, we'll see if this was true, I guess, by their performance in the next couple of years.

McLaren are only expecting an upgrade from Germany onwards .................

[DriverT]

But they have to have designed some of next year's car already, so they may have already taken their eye off the ball sufficiently to affect their performance next year.

[esorniloc]

Originally posted by DriverT
But they have to have designed some of next year's car already, so they may have already taken their eye off the ball sufficiently to affect their performance next year.

So they are now looking at 2006 before they start to improve?

[DriverT]

Possibly, or maybe that's just a little too pessimistic.

[Kicking-back]

Originally posted by Super Tourer
As ever, Ron D's fanatical attention to detail and perfection has been put into the centre, leading some observers (inc Adrian Newey - allegedly..) to offer the opinion that focus on the the new project is one reason why the racing team has lost it's edge.

Which is rubbish, of course.

Ron doesn't design the cars.

Or the engines.

[Super Tourer]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
Which is rubbish, of course.

Ron doesn't design the cars.

Or the engines.

I never implyed he did, but I think it does show some underlying tensions within the organisation, the fruits of which have been the last two cars. Maybe Ron is frustrated that Adrian has overseen two bad cars, particularly when one was supposed to be gleaned from the mistakes of the other, conversely maybe AN views the current period as more style over substance.

Whatever, McLaren have unusually for them produced two poor cars at the same time as putting a lot of effort and resources into their factory. Pure coincidence, or eye off the ball?

I don't think we can underestimate the effect of direction from the top, you could argue that David Richards doesn't design cars or engines either, yet BAR has seemingly galvanized a co-ordinated effort sufficient to be the challenger to Ferrari.

[Kicking-back]

Ron's doing the best thing for the long term future of the team though.

[Mackmot]

I heard it was too small and they were having to hire there old place to do some of the work and for storage

[MADDOG-99]

Originally posted by Mackmot
I heard it was too small and they were having to hire there old place to do some of the work and for storage

That just summs up McL at the moment, Bad organisation and thoughtlessness.
I think your right about all the underlying tension, they need to sort their sh1* out:

[Mr V]

This new centre is, imo, the very reason Ron Dennis won't be retiring for a few years yet. Why build a fantastic new building, then retire and not get any use out of it?

[freud]

I agree with Mr V.

Ron Dennis is here to stay and he'll take Mclaren to the top again.. mark my words.

[senna12]

Boy, that is one sterile looking office building.

[freud]

What????? office building..??

If you call this *State*Of*The*Art*&*Futuristic* technological complex an office building than what more can I say except that I wish you get a chance in your lifetime to go outside Columbia and visit the MTC. I heard that both Williams and Maranello are planning similar ventures. I think Ron Dennis has now organized the team well and its the responsibility of the engineers to run that wind tunnel 24/7/365 before March 2005. I am sure next year's car will not be like the one this year.