Why McLaren Automotive is pumping up the volume

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Ron Dennis, chairman of McLaren Group and McLaren Automotive, wanted the entrance to its Woking base to “cleanse the minds” of his team before they start work each day, as well as creating an environment that was odourless and near-silent. The ability to showcase the brand’s 52-year racing heritage and incorporate the resident Formula One team’s 145-metre wind tunnel, which employs a neighbouring lake to cool its turbines, were also key priorities.

McLaren Automotive, built out of the same obsession for engineering excellence, fits well within the space age, cutting edge surroundings – in June of last year it announced it was reinvesting 20% of its £475.5 million annual turnover, about £92m, into research and development.