McLaren find new use for old Woking factory in latest major F1 infrastructure project

McLaren have repurposed their old Formula 1 factory to become a new composites facility, team principal Andrea Stella has revealed.

The highly impressive McLaren Technology Centre facility has been the team’s home since 2003, when the eight-time F1 Constructors’ Champions made the move from their previous base also in Woking, Surrey.

According to Motorsport.com, Stella announced the department move ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – with McLaren’s heritage department also fully relocating to the Technology Centre as part of the plans.

“I’m pleased to say that the old factory has been repurposed to become the new McLaren racing composite facility,” Stella said.

“That’s actually on the final sprint, it will be completed in a couple of months. It’s a remarkable project.

“And we have created some space at the MTC, which we will use for the heritage cars.”

In moving the composites facility to a separate facility away from the MTC, it is hoped that McLaren will make “significant savings” on the time taken to produce parts for the F1 cars in addition to the build process for new cars.

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McLaren have launched a number of ambitious infrastructure projects in recent years, with a new state-of-the art wind tunnel and simulator installed at the Technology Centre.

In addition to the old factory, McLaren own a separate building nearby where it currently stores a large collection of its historic F1 cars as well as current equipment including pit wall and garage parts.

Piers Thynne, McLaren’s chief operating officer, explained why moving the heritage facility to McLaren’s main factory – where the cars will be displayed permanently on the famous ‘boulevard’ is such a key step.

He said: “The heritage team is absolutely part of the Formula 1 organisation, and it’s an interesting story about why they’re there [away from the MTC].

“We’ve done a huge amount of investment in various infrastructure projects across Formula 1 and that’s necessitated a ‘holiday’ in the warehouse longer than we originally wanted.

“But it links into our long-term infrastructure projects – of the wind tunnel, simulator, new composite facility and other works that are happening at the MTC.

“So, they’re there on a holiday, and they are coming back to the MTC by the end of this year, and quite rightly will be front of house on the boulevard.

“It’s really important that we have those showcase vehicles around us to always remind everybody that we have a long history.

“And any inspiration that [McLaren staff] might need beyond what we do on a day-to-day basis, you can see it on your way to lunch or when you go and get a brew.”