The McLaren Group has for many years been closely associated with the highest levels of motorsport, and has successfully competed in Formula1 and other great motor racing series and races such as Can-Am, Indy car and Le Mans.

In 1989 a new company, McLaren Cars, was founded by former McLaren Group Chairman Ron Dennis with the intention of designing and building the world's greatest supercar and in 1992 the McLaren F1 was launched to a stunned world press. This was in no small part due to the fact that the F1 had a top speed of 225mph, way faster than any other supercar at that time. Since then, the company now known as McLaren Automotive, joined forces with Mercedes-Benz to produce the exclusive SLR McLaren between 2003 and 2009, selling a total of 2,114 cars.

However, in early 2012 their own successor to the iconic F1, the MP4-12C, started production at the state of the art £40 million McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey. Following on from the success of the MP4-12C McLaren now make a number of supercars for both road and track  under the range banners of GT, Supercars and Ultimate Series. In 2018 McLaren were handed the keys to their new Composites Technology Centre in Yorkshire.

MCR Race Cars specialise in the design and manufacture of sports prototype racing cars and are based near St Davids in Pembrokeshire. Using the latest technology, the quality of manufacture of its components, everything under the skin, in the cockpit and even the GRP clothing that covers it, looks neat, oozes quality and has a robustness about it. They undertake all their own machining and fabrication, have full in-house production of GRP and fibreglass bodywork and moulds and look after race preparation. The MCR was designed by Brazilian designer Luiz Fernando Cruz and Welshman Clive Hayes. They currently manufacture the MCR S2 and 02 racers.

Métisse Motorcycles was founded in 1958 by the Rickman brothers, Don and Derek, both successful motocross racers. They started by just building their own frames, but in 1959 launched their first complete motorcycle, the Mk1 Métisse. 

In 1962, the legendary Mk3 was first raced and provided the catalyst for Métisse’s legendary innovative design and engineering excellence. In 1966, Métisse (French for Mongrel) branched out into the road racing scene and the first road racing motorcycle from Métisse was again a masterclass in innovation and outstanding handling,

Through the 70s, Métisse’s reputation was boosted in the USA by its record of successfully competing in desert racing and was championed by the likes of Steve McQueen and Bud Ekins. Their exporting success was acknowledged by the Queen’s Award to Industry in 1974.

In 1982 Pat French became the custodian for the Mk3 and Café Racers, continuing production and spares using the original moulds and jigs. Despite growing popularity and improved engineering from Japanese motorcycle manufacturers through the ’80s and ’90s, thanks to Pat French and his MRD company, the name of Métisse continued to thrive.

Following several changes of ownership over the ensuing years, Métisse Motorcycles is now run by Métisse enthusiast Gerry Lisi. In 2008 the iconic Steve McQueen Desert Race replica project was started, with Steve’s son, Chad personally becoming involved and ensuring all design details were correct. With the McQueen estate granting the rights for 300 to be produced in limited numbers, the iconic status of the Mk3 lives on. Métisse is the only British manufacturer that handcrafts unique motorcycles with its very own engine.

They currently build the limited edition Steve McQueen Desert Racer™ and other Mk3 and MK5 models, together with undertaking special projects and selling frame and bodywork kits from their premises in Faringdon, Oxfordshire. 

MG Motorsport was set up in 1990 by Doug Smith to service and supply parts to owners of later MGs, especially the MGC for which he had developed several improved and performance parts. The business gradually expanded to  include building “new” MGBs and Cs as well as restoration, road and race preparation, and standard and performance parts for most of the post 1955 MG models. 

Tom, Doug’s son, works in the business and is a successful multiple race winner in his MGB Historic car, 297 EFU.

They currently work from their premises in Bovingdon, near Hemel Hempstead and among other mainly MG projects manufacture the highly regarded MGC GTS Sebring and MGB Historic Racer replicas. These comply with FIA regulations for Historic Racers.