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What is McLaren’s view on the government’s statement that the sale of petrol and diesel cars will be banned by 2040? Do you think these will be replaced by electric cars, hybrids or hydrogen cars? What are your views on this subject?


It isn’t fully clear what the position of UK Government is on the detail of this announcement, so like everyone else we are waiting for clarification. Niche manufacturers such as McLaren Automotive are vitally important in this area as we help to incubate technology that influences standard road cars. Five years ago, we pioneered the world’s first hybrid hypercar, the McLaren P1TM, and now, under our Track22 business plan, half of our range will be hybrid by 2022.


We believe that it is important for the government to maintain a key role in influencing and promoting a fair regulatory framework for small and niche manufacturers wherever we export in the world in order to reduce unnecessary burden and ensure sufficient phase-in periods for any new legislation. Through a business orientated approach, the government can help address trade barriers and allow manufacturers like McLaren to maintain their competitiveness and continue to employ thousands of skilled people, invest heavily in research and development while supporting an extensive domestic supply chain.


McLaren has an EV under development that is going to be even better than the P1. What can you tell us about this?


As you can imagine, developing the ‘McLaren of electric vehicles’ is quite a challenge; we do have a team studying the subject but there is no news to share at this time and no firm timescale. We have confirmed that the forthcoming BP23 Hyper-GT will have a hybrid powertrain though – and that will be the fastest ever McLaren road car...


I understand the McLaren’s Technology Centre in Woking is truly amazing. In the lubrication industry, the standards set for aviation are seen to be amongst the highest. Would you say that the F1 developments work to the same standards as are set for aviation?


Yes, but with no redundancy. Our hydraulic fluid is essentially the same as aircraft specification, but we filter it to sub 3-micro-particle size to avoid any contamination, because, on


8 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.142 DECEMBER 2017


the race car, we only have one system for each function, unlike aircraft that have two or three systems as back-up in case of failure. Our fuel and oils are extreme versions of automotive products but the precision and development is similar to aircraft.


McLaren is building a new carbon composite factory in Sheffield. When will this facility be ready? How many new jobs will it bring to the area? What is the involvement of the nearby Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at Sheffield University?


The new McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) will be based close to the campus of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield. Built with support from Sheffield City Council, the new Centre will be responsible for the development and manufacturing of the Monocell and Monocage carbon fibre chassis in future McLaren cars. These next generation chassis will be built using advanced automated manufacturing techniques developed in conjunction with the AMRC.


Construction of the new facility began this year and the first pre-production carbon fibre chassis are expected to be delivered to the McLaren Technology Centre before the end of the year, using trial manufacturing processes in the AMRC. Full production is due to commence by 2020.


The creation of the new McLaren Composites Technology Centre represents the company’s first purpose-built facility outside of the current McLaren campus. Formed through a partnership between McLaren Automotive, the University of Sheffield’s AMRC and Sheffield City Council, the new Composites Technology Centre will create more than 200 jobs through a combined investment of nearly £50 million. Approximately 150 of the new employees will be production staff and the remaining 50 manufacturing support staff.


The target is that the new Centre will deliver cost savings of around £10million when compared to costs of today and £100 million of GVA (gross value added) benefit to the local economy by 2028. Opportunities for expansion thereafter create an ambition of doubling that to £200 million. The in-sourcing of the manufacture of the carbon fibre chassis also increases the average percentage (by value) of a McLaren car sourced in the UK by around eight per cent from its average of around 50 percent, depending on model.


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