Designer Gordon Murray awarded CBE in New Year Honours

Legendary automotive designer and engineer, Gordon Murray, has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in the 2019 Queen’s New Years Honours.

The former Brabham and McLaren Formula 1 designer has been recognised with the accolade for his ‘services to motoring’ following a lifetime of devising and creating ground-breaking projects in the motorsport and automotive sectors.

“It is extremely humbling to receive a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours,” Murray said.

“I’ve spent more than 50 years doing what I love, working with a wealth of highly-talented and creative people around the world, but primarily in the UK.

“From the competing during the heyday of Formula One, to designing the world’s fastest supercar, I’ve loved every minute.

“I’d like to dedicate this honour to all those I’ve worked with over the years and I look forward to an exciting new future for the Gordon Murray Group.”

Murray designed his first car in 1967 before joining the Brabham F1 team as technical director, helping the team secure two world championships in 1981 and 1983.

He moved to McLaren to carry out the same role during its title-winning 1988 F1 campaign, with two more world championship triumphs following in 1989 and 1990.

Having accumulated 50 Grand Prix wins in F1, Murray turned his attentions to a new project, establishing the McLaren Cars Limited group which heralded the birth of the McLaren F1 road car.

The GTR racing version won two world sports car championships and the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. Murray guided a number of successful projects at McLaren Cars, including the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren programme.

In 2005 he formed a new British company - Gordon Murray Design Limited - for the design, engineering, prototyping and development of vehicles. The Surrey-based company is renowned for being one of the finest automotive design teams in the world and is responsible for the innovative manufacturing technology iStream.