British team McLaren have revealed that their car for the forthcoming Formula One season will be called MCL60, makes reference to the 60th anniversary of the Woking-based outfit, which was founded by Bruce McLaren in 1963.
Proud of our past. Embracing our present. Shaping our future. 👊
A special name for a special year. #MCL60 coming 🔜 👀 pic.twitter.com/GRopoUh2At
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) February 8, 2023
Last year’s car, the MCL36, continued McLaren’s long-running numerical system of naming their cars which stretched back to the first car developed after Ron Dennis took over the team.
MP4, which stood for McLaren Project 4 in reference to Dennis’s Project Four Racing organisation, preceded the numbers in their cars’ names until 2016.
The present McLaren team continued that sequence after Dennis’ departure, with MCL preceding the numbers.
Before Dennis took over, McLaren’s F1 cars were numbered from M2 to M29. The ‘M’ designation was also used for cars raced in other series.
The naming of the Mercedes-powered MCL60, which will be launched next Monday at the team’s Woking headquarters, is the start of several celebrations McLaren will be making through 2023 for their 60th anniversary.