21/04/2009
NEWS STORY
McLaren Electronic Systems, an independent trading company of the McLaren Group, has today been awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in Innovation, which is widely viewed as the UK's most prestigious accolade for business-related achievement and performance.
The Award has been bestowed for the design, manufacture and deployment of the standard Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for the FIA Formula One World Championship for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 racing seasons. The ECU is the complex power train control and primary data logger used by all of the competitors in this championship. It was introduced for the start of the 2008 racing season as a means of reducing the cost of competing in the sport, whilst maintaining and improving upon the spectacle by removing certain electronic driver aids, such as traction control and automated starts. McLaren Electronic Systems won the contract to become official ECU supplier, along with its technical partner Microsoft Corporation, in July 2006.
"We at McLaren Electronic Systems feel honoured and privileged to have received a Queen's Award," said Dr Peter van Manen, Managing Director. "It is a prestigious and independent recognition of our commitment to innovate and push technological boundaries for which we feel a tremendous sense of pride and humility. It has only been possible through dedication, passion and a lot of hard work from every member of the McLaren Electronic Systems workforce, the help and assistance from our technical partner, Microsoft, and the terrific support that we have received throughout from the FIA and all of the teams competing in the championship."
Today's announcement is timed to mark Her Majesty The Queen's birthday. McLaren Electronic Systems will be formally conferred later in the year. The Awards are made each year by The Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisting by an advisory committee that includes representatives of Government, industry and commerce and the trade unions.