Tyler Alexander, a ‘founding father’ of McLaren, has passed away at the age of 75, the Woking team confirmed on Thursday.
Alexander worked alongside founder Bruce McLaren on his CanAm and USAC efforts, but in 1963 he helped form the McLaren F1 Team. He quickly rose through the ranks to become a senior member for over two decades.
Whilst he left to focus on an IndyCar effort, he later returned to McLaren’s Special Projects division, before finally retiring in 2009.
McLaren chairman Ron Dennis expressed his sadness over the loss of a McLaren legend: “Alongside Bruce McLaren, who founded the McLaren company in 1963, Tyler Alexander was one of the first pillars of our company – working hard alongside Bruce from the very earliest days – and Bruce couldn’t have asked for a sturdier pair of shoulders upon which to help build the team’s reputation.
“Tyler’s expert yet practical expertise, coupled with his energetic and optimistic attitude, topped off by his infectiously dry and satirical sense of humour, made him both highly successful and hugely popular, whether he was overseeing car-builds in the team’s workshop, running race-winning CanAm and Indy 500 crews, or working with some of the world’s greatest drivers and engineers in Formula 1.
“Quite simply, Tyler lived and breathed McLaren – and, following his retirement in late 2008, during which season he attended every grand prix and played an important part in securing the team’s and Lewis Hamilton’s world championship success, he remained a much loved and greatly valued chum to many of us, regularly visiting our Woking factory to catch up with pals old and new.
“Tyler’s was a friendship that you could really rely upon; he was a man who would never let you down. In fact, Tyler was one of the finest of the old school: hardy, humble and wise, leaving a reputation and a legacy that will remain indelible in the history of international motorsport.
“So, on behalf of all at McLaren, I’d like to pay heartfelt tribute to one of our team’s founding fathers, and to offer our deepest condolences to his many friends and his ever-loving companion, Jane Nottage, who has always stood by him, valiant to the very end.”
