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How McLaren is spinning off into a technology giant

The house that Bruce McLaren built got bigger under Ron Dennis - and it's getting bigger still. McLaren's Formula 1 DNA is now creeping into areas that stretch far beyond grand prix racing

Much has recently been written about Ron Dennis, and not always in complimentary terms, but there is no denying that whatever his undoings as an individual may be, it was his relentless entrepreneurial drive and vision that turned a declining McLaren race team from the end of the 1970s into a record-setting, championship-winning operation - and one of Britain's great technology groups, to boot.

While the F1 operation may currently be experiencing a barren period - fingers pointed unwaveringly at engine partner Honda - Ferrari and Mercedes inadvertently paid Woking compliments of the highest order by refusing to supply McLaren with power units for fear of being beaten by an identically-powered team. Such is McLaren's reputation, even 10 years after the team last won a title.

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