How a key ingredient of McLaren’s glory era is shaping its F1 future
McLaren provided the springboard for Emanuele Pirro’s racing career – one which led him from developing championship-winning Formula 1 cars to five victories at Le Mans. Now, as JAMES NEWBOLD discovers, he’s back with a mission to do the same for a new generation of talent…
It hasn’t escaped Emanuele Pirro that he’s been rather popular of late. Perhaps this should come as no surprise. After all, interest in the Le Mans 24 Hours, where the charming Italian claimed five victories for Audi between 2000 and 2007, reached an all-time high in 2023, the classic race’s 100th anniversary year.
But rather than his exploits behind the wheel – which in Formula 1 peaked with fifth place for Benetton in the 1989 Australian Grand Prix – his continually pinging inbox has had everything to do with his appointment last April to head up McLaren’s driver development programme.
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