Home is where the heart is

It’s all change at McLaren at both its ‘homes’ as the luxury sports car company announced a new retail partner in the kingdom shortly after its sister company forced out the man who ran the grand prix racing team.

The launch McLaren MP4-12C – considered by motoring enthusiasts to be ‘the national car of Bahrain’ as the British brand is partly-owned by the kingdom’s investment fund Mumtalakat – first arrived in the kingdom in 2012 and the marque recently unveiled its latest Sports Series models, the 570S and 570GT.

Kanoo Motors has replaced Saudi based Al Ghassan Motors. The appointment was announced by McLaren Automotive chief executive officer, Mike Flewitt, and Kanoo Motors directors, Ebrahim M. Kanoo and Talal F. Kanoo, at Bahrain International Circuit.

“We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with McLaren Automotive in Bahrain,” said Ebrahim. “As one of the leading companies in the kingdom with a long-established track record, we always look to partner with the most progressive and forward thinking brands that will add value to our business.

McLaren Automotive fits that bill perfectly and we look forward to many successful years of cooperation together.” The feeling is mutual. Andreas Bareis, managing director McLaren Automotive Middle East, Africa and Latin America, added: “Whilst the Sports Series opens up McLaren to an entirely new audience, this retailer appointment unlocks a new audience across our entire model range in Bahrain.”

Customers and fans can still check out the range at the McLaren Bahrain showroom next to Moda Mall, while McLaren Service and Aftersales care will now be available at Kanoo Performance Centre located in Tubli, opposite to Toyota Plaza, manned by McLaren-trained technicians.

The announcement of the relationship between the British brand and Bahraini conglomerate comes amidst celebrations of the 200th anniversary of UK-Bahrain relations, and has been warmly welcomed by UK ambassador Simon Martin.

This partnership agreement was sealed at an official ceremony held at the BIC during the debut of the McLaren P1 GTR Driver Programme. Former Formula 1, current McLaren GT factory driver and McLaren P1 GTR Driver Programme Mentor, Bruno Senna was also present.

Bruno works closely with each of the drivers taking part in the programme staged at some of the world’s top circuits. The P1 GTR can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.4 seconds, with the top speed at 225 mph.

The kingdom is also home to both the McLaren Automotive regional headquarters for the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Meanwhile, shareholders in McLaren’s Formula One team and luxury sports car sister company are ‘committed to both businesses’ and have ‘turned down’ bids from prospective buyers, said Mike Flewitt, CEO of the brand’s automotive firm.

Ron Dennis, who headed the McLaren Technology Group (MTG) that runs the Grand Prix racing team, was forced out last week after what news reports suggest was a dispute over a Chinese takeover bid that Mr Dennis backed and other investors opposed.

Founded in 1963 by Bruce McLaren and known for winning titles with drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, the British brand set up a separate sports car maker in 2010 to rival the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin.

Mumtalakat, Ron Dennis and TAG, a company led by Saudi-born businessman Mansour Ojjeh, are the automotive firm’s three biggest shareholders, and also own all of MTG, responsible for Formula One and applied technologies. “There have been a number of bids,” Mike added. “I am comfortable with where our current shareholders are that they want to retain ownership of the company. They want to develop both companies.”

But he said Mr Dennis would need to work out his relationship with the other shareholders and his involvement with the brand going forward. McLaren Automotive has grown rapidly and is aiming to double the number of luxury hand-made models it builds to more than 3,000 this year, not far behind Aston Martin.

The firm makes all of its models, which range from just under BD56,000 to around BD932,000 depending on customisation, at its site in southern England and exports 92 per cent of its output.

The company said it expected to post a similar pretax profit in 2016 to last year’s 5.4 million pounds (approximately BD2.5 million) as it invests in expansion, but that as an exporter the fall in the pound since Britain’s vote to leave the European Union was a boost.

In a statement to Motoring Weekly, McLaren Technology Group said it was now in the process of seeking a new CEO. The company is currently being run on an interim basis by an executive committee comprising the group’s majority shareholders, in close collaboration with the board of directors and the senior management team.