RON DENNIS
TEAM PRINCIPAL, TEAM McLaren MERCEDES
CHAIRMAN AND CEO, McLaren GROUP

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 Long term Partnership with Vodafone commences Vodafone McLaren Mercedes launches as a team
2004 Royal Opening of McLaren Technology Centre by Her Majesty The Queen
2004 Formation of McLaren Applied Technologies
2000 40% of McLaren Group sold to DaimlerChrysler
1997 Formation of Absolute Taste
1995 McLaren wins the Le Mans 24 Hour race on its debut as a manufacturer with the F1 GTR
1989 Co-founds McLaren Automotive to design and manufacture the McLaren F1 Roadcar
1987 McLaren Electronic Systems is formed
1986 Creation of McLaren Marketing
1984 Establishes Partnership with TAG Group
1982 Assumes control of McLaren Racing
1980 Acquires equity in Team McLaren Limited
1971 Launches Rondel Racing
1968 Chief Mechanic to Jack Brabham
1966 First role in Motorsport with Cooper Racing Car Company

Ron Dennis, who was born 1st June 1947, began his career in motor racing in 1966 with the Cooper Racing Car Company. He moved to join the Brabham Racing team and by 1968 he had been appointed to the position of Chief Mechanic to Sir Jack Brabham. Three years later Ron launched his own company, Rondel Racing, and during the 1970s he ran a succession of highly successful teams, concentrating on the F2 and Procar Championships. In 1980, Ron’s company Project Four merged with Team McLaren Limited to form McLaren Racing. This was to be the catalyst for the success and diversification that McLaren has enjoyed to date.

Since 1980, McLaren has won seven Constructors' World Championships and has claimed the Drivers’ World Championship on nine occasions. In 1989 Ron co-founded McLaren Cars, which designed and manufactured the revolutionary F1 road car and is now working in collaboration with DaimlerChrysler on the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren sports car project.

The McLaren Group has continued to grow and diversify and currently encompasses McLaren Automotive Ltd, McLaren Electronic Systems, McLaren Marketing, McLaren Applied Technologies, Absolute Taste and Lydden Circuit, all in addition to the flagship, McLaren Racing’s Team McLaren Mercedes Formula One team.

During the year 2000 Ron, who lives in Surrey with his wife and three children was honoured with a CBE for services to motorsport. In 2001 Ron was presented with a BRDC Gold Medal in recognition for his contribution to motorsport. Ron was also awarded with an Hon DTech from De Montford University in 1996, an Hon DSc from City University, London, in 1997 and, in 2000, an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University of Surrey.

2008 - Dennis commits to McLaren and the future
Timothy Collings
Any lingering doubts about Ron Dennis's commitment to McLaren Mercedes-Benz and the future were laid to rest on Thursday when the long-serving team principal appeared and spoke at the team's traditional pre-season lunch.

Standing to address a dining room packed with international media guests in a St Kilda restaurant, Dennis conceded there had been "considerable confusion" about his position at the head of his team in recent weeks.

This followed McLaren's near-disastrous year in 2007 when, despite the stunning rookie season of young Briton Lewis Hamilton, the team was embroiled in a series of controversies, accused of 'industrial espionage' by Ferrari in the 'spygate' affair and fined 100 million dollars (US).

The team was stripped of its Constructors' Championship points and rocked by the intra-team rivalry of Hamilton, now 23, and his senior team-mate, Spaniard Fernando Alonso, also in his first season with McLaren after winning two world titles with Renault.

Such was the ferocity of their competitive battle that Alonso parted company with McLaren at the end of the year after season-long leader Hamilton had missed out on lifting the title in his rookie year by a single point. Alonso also lost out as Finn Kimi Raikkonen, in a Ferrari, took the crown.

Dennis, 60, felt the blow to his team's bank balance and reputation severely and, following a recent announcement that he and his wife Lisa were separating, was expected to confirm rumours and step down as chief executive and chairman of the McLaren Group and principal of the F1 team.

But after holding a meeting with his staff in England on Tuesday, he caught the flight to Melbourne for the season-opener and made it clear that he has lost none of his resolve to succeed.

"There has been confusion," he said. "But as you can see I am here and you can see that I am as committed to winning this first Grand Prix of the season as much as I am the last."

He said that any future handover of power at McLaren would be "a seamless transition" whenever it took place. But, he added, with a half-grin, "I still think that I have got a lot to offer."

Dennis also talked very positively about the prospects for success of his driver line-up of Hamilton and newly-arrived Finn Heikki Kovalainen, but warned that the latter, who came from Renault, would need to be given time to find his racing feet with the team.

"Heikki is going to need four or five races to settle in and show his full potential in this team," he said. "For him, the challenge is to keep everything in perspective."

He had little doubt that the new pairing would work well together: "They get on well and that is the legacy of their time together racing in GP2 so we are hoping for things to be fine."