Bruce McLaren awarded honorary degree in engineering

The University of Auckland has posthumously awarded Bruce McLaren an honorary degree in engineering as the firm that bears his name marks its 60^th anniversary.

The late engineer, innovator and racing driver was honoured for his contributions to engineering in a ceremony at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. His daughter, Amanda McLaren, accepted the award on his behalf.

Amanda McLaren, the daughter of Bruce McLaren, accepted the award on his behalf at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England

Bruce McLaren was the first recipient of the New Zealand International Grand Prix Association's Driver to Europe Scholarship after completing his first year of his Bachelor of Engineering degree at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He became the youngest winner of a Formula One Grand Prix in 2959, a record that remained unbroken for 44 years.

He would go on to establish Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd just four years after this, and would go on to dominate the North American Can-Am Championship series together with Kiwi teammate Denny Hulme.

The modern McLaren claims to validate Bruce McLaren's vision, as a producer of lightweight supercars and a competitor in motorsport championships including Formula One, Formula E, Extreme E, and the world of e-sports.

The University of Auckland is additionally planning to establish an engineering research centre to honour and build on Bruce's legacy. The proposed Bruce McLaren Centre for High Performance Engineering will empower future generations of engineering excellence, and focus on integrating high performance materials, advanced manufacturing and innovative design to meet the world's need for a prosperous and sustainable future.