McLaren 60th Anniversary Celebrated at Velocity Invitational
- Added January 30, 2024
- Tags: GTS, McLaren
McLaren, The Americas, is set to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the brand with a spectacular showcase at the Velocity Invitational, scheduled for November 10-12 at the Sonoma Raceway in Northern California. The event will serve as a fitting conclusion to a year of festivities commemorating McLaren’s founding by Bruce McLaren on September 2, 1963.
McLaren Automotive, which officially entered the American market in 2011, plans to assemble a comprehensive lineup of its iconic supercars and hypercars for the weekend. This collection will include models like the McLaren P1TM, Senna, Elva, and various LT (Longtail) iterations, showcasing the evolution of McLaren’s extreme performance offerings.
A particularly notable inclusion in the exhibition will be the M1A Elva, the very first McLaren customer race car, driven by none other than Elvis Presley in the 1966 movie Spinout. This historic vehicle adds a unique dimension to McLaren’s rich heritage.
A significant highlight of the Velocity Invitational will be the unveiling of a special McLaren supercar, generating anticipation among enthusiasts. While details about this particular model are currently under wraps, it is poised to be a momentous reveal involving superstar drivers and a car designed to captivate fans.
McLaren Racing, the racing arm of the brand, will contribute to the event by presenting its most extensive collection of heritage cars ever featured in North America. This assortment includes iconic vehicles like Niki Lauda’s 1984 World Championship-winning MP4/2A-1 and Lewis Hamilton’s MP4/23A-05, which secured his first World Championship in 2008. Additionally, the MP4/6-10 driven by Ayrton Senna for his third and final World Championship will be on display.
The Velocity Invitational will offer fans the opportunity to engage with current McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris, who will be joined by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. The Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team will also be represented by drivers Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, David Malukas, and Tony Kanaan. Former McLaren Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson and Le Mans legend Derek Bell, along with Bruce McLaren’s daughter, Amanda McLaren, will add a touch of nostalgia to the celebrations.
In summary, the Velocity Invitational promises to be a grand culmination of McLaren’s 60th-anniversary celebrations, blending the brand’s historic legacy with its cutting-edge supercars, all set against the backdrop of the scenic Sonoma Raceway.
Velocity Invitational will give McLaren fans and racing enthusiasts the chance to get close to a host of road and racing cars that encapsulate just what this iconic brand is all about. I’m sure that Bruce McLaren would be proud to see what has been achieved by both the race and road car divisions of the dream that he established back in the UK just 60 years ago. From World Championship winning Formula 1 cars, to Can Am and Indy winners, and in recent history some road cars that embody the performance, innovation and excellence that McLaren stands for—it should be a spectacular weekend.
