This might not be news to anyone who came to the October Scramble, where an ex-Lewis Hamilton McLaren MP4-24, Gen2 Formula E chassis and a papaya Extreme E car were hard to miss in Building 119, but here goes… NEOM McLaren Electric Racing has officially moved into Bicester Heritage.
Not only that, McLaren’s arrival means the Heritage Quarter is at capacity, with 50 business operating from the location.
The squad joins the all-electric single-seater Formula E World Championship in 2023 having taken over reigning champions’ Mercedes-EQ entry for Season 9.
Former Audi works driver and Formula E race-winner René Rast is the first driver confirmed for the season, which gets underway in Mexico City on 14 January.
In Extreme E, an all-electric off-road racing series with sustainability at its heart, Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust currently spearhead the new team in its debut season. The final round takes place in Uruguay on 26-27 November.
“It’s an exciting time for the team and the sport,” said Ian James, managing director of NEOM McLaren Electric Racing. “We are embarking on a new chapter, as part of the McLaren Racing family. Basing ourselves at the unique location of Bicester Heritage, we have the advantage of being surrounded by people who are as passionate about motorsport as we are.”
Daniel Geoghegan, Bicester Motion chief executive, added: “McLaren’s expansion into another racing series like Formula E is as unique as our site. We look forward to supporting them during this next phase of their development."
