MAY 8, 2004

Queen Elizabeth to open MTC

The McLaren Technology Centre will be officially opened on Wednesday next week with HRH Queen Elizabeth II. McLaren's new headquarters now houses around 1000 employees and most of the McLaren empire including the Formula 1 team and the production areas of the new Mercedes McLaren road car. The facility, which was begun in the autumn of 1998 has cost a rumoured $400m.

Among the other dignitaries attending the event will be the Duke of Edinburgh, a long list of former McLaren drivers including the four surviving McLaren World Champions: Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost and Mika Hakkinen.

The ceremony will highlight McLaren's contributions to the local economy. Team boss Ron Dennis comes from the town and has run racing teams in Woking premises for more than 25 years at a variety of different locations.

The Technology Centre has been designed for the team by architect Lord Foster.