McLaren Sign Coughlan, Announce Reshuffle

The McLaren Formula One squad announced on Friday a reshuffle to their design team, confirming that Arrows technical director Mike Coughlan will join them next month as chief designer.

Coughlan, a 43-year-old Briton, had already been linked with the Woking-based squad, and McLaren boss Ron Dennis had revealed earlier this year that they were in talks with the Arrows man.

With the Leafield team struggling to survive, Coughlan will join McLaren on September 2nd.

"I have known Mike for some time and look forward to welcoming him to the team and co-operating on a professional level", said McLaren's Neil Oatley, who will become the team's executive director of engineering. "I'm excited about the opportunities this partnership will offer both to us and the development of the team."

Coughlan added: "Obviously I look forward to the challenges ahead. Everyone that I have met at McLaren has a great determination and a strong will to win. There is no doubt that I will enjoy working with Neil and the rest of the technical team."

McLaren also announced that apart from Coughlan's entry and Oatley's move, John Sutton will become their principal designer and will assume responsibility for transmission and rear end integration. All of them will work under the supervision of technical director Adrian Newey.

"McLaren aims to have the best technical team available to compete at the highest levels and I believe that the combination of Neil and Mike will prove extremely strong," said Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren's managing director.

"Neil and Mike are looking forward to working together and hold each other in great mutual respect. Neil's contribution to the company for the past 15 years has been exceptional and as Mike's personality and skills are complimentary to those of Neil I have no doubt that the results of their co-operation will be excellent. John, who will be working closely with Mike, will further strengthen our technical team."