McLaren marks 50 years since the tragic death of Bruce McLaren

McLaren has observed 50 years since the passing of its founder Bruce McLaren by having his daughter Amanda McLaren place 50 candles around some of McLaren’s most iconic cars and a specially commissioned statue of her father. Watch below.

HAKA FOR BRUCE. Ahead of the 50th anniversary of our founder’s passing, Auckland University have paid tribute to their distinguished alumnus, Bruce McLaren.

“E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā hau e whā tēnā koutou katoa. E maumahara ana mātou ki a Bruce i wheturangitia, e ngā mate katoa, haere, haere, haere atu rā Rātou ki a rātou Tātou ki a tātou ki te ao turoa Tena tatou katoa”.

Its key message encourages us to strive to take up the challenges and legacy of those who have come before us. 

The death of Bruce McLaren in a testing crash at Goodwood on 2 June 1970 could have signalled the end of the company that bore his name.

However, the New Zealander had put together a successful organisation and a strong team of people, so such an outcome would have been unthinkable. In the absence of its founder McLaren not only continued to operate, it thrived and achieved even greater heights, thanks in large part to the inspiration that Bruce had provided.

For most kiwi motorsport fans, the achievements of Bruce Mclaren are well known. He moved to the other side of the world at a young age, became the youngest ever GP winner at 22 years 104 days a record that stood for quite some time. In just a few short years founded his own team, won Grand Prix races, dominated Cam-Am, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Built race cars that competed in Formula 1, Can-Am, F5000, F2, Indycar. His dream to build his own road car a project that was cut short with the M6GT but was eventually realised in 1992 with McLaren cars presenting the McLaren F1 and in 2010 as McLaren Automotive.

Below is a selection of images of Bruce and some of the incredible cars he raced, many bearing his own name. The sheer amount of racing in different categories Bruce achieved in his short lifetime is amazing and truly makes him one of the all-time greats in motorsport history.