McLaren make new technical appointments

McLaren International is pleased to announce the following appointments designed to further strengthen its technical team under the leadership of Adrian Newey.

Neil Oatley will become Executive Director of Engineering. Neil will have overall responsibility for engineering standards, configuration control, quality, reliability and risk management.

Mike Coughlan will join McLaren International as Chief Designer and will assume responsibility for the management of the design team.

John Sutton has joined McLaren International as Principal Designer and will assume responsibility for transmission and rear end integration.

"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, Managing Director of McLaren International. "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."

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

"Obviously I look forward to the challenges ahead," commented Mike Coughlan. "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."

Mike will join the team on 2nd September 2002.

-mclaren-