Former McLaren boss Teddy Mayer, who guided James Hunt to his world Formula One championship win in 1976, has died.
Mayer took over as team head when founder Bruce McLaren died in 1970.
The 73-year-old American also helped Brazil’s Emerson Fittipaldi to the title in 1974, and to the constructors’ crown in the same season.
“Teddy was one of motor racing’s few truly great men,” McLaren team principal Ron Dennis, who succeeded Mayer after buying his shares in 1982, said in a statement on Sunday.
“He was part of the very small team of talented enthusiasts who, alongside Bruce McLaren, founded Bruce McLaren motor racing.”
“The origins of our many and ongoing successes are with Bruce and Teddy,” added Dennis, who is himself handing over as team principal to Martin Whitmarsh next month.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim, Pattie and the rest of the Mayer family. Teddy Mayer was one of motorsport’s foremost minds and earned the respect of his fellow competitors with his tireless dedication, ingenuity and championship-winning history. He was truly one of the pioneers of modern motorsport, both from a sporting and business perspective. The accomplishments he achieved with McLaren in a variety of racing disciplines and later in life in a much more understated manner with the Penske organization cannot be matched. We truly have lost one of the giants of our industry.” Scott Atherton, President and CEO, American Le Mans Series said.
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