Leslie Bruce McLaren had unconventional skills for his time: at 21 years old he was Cooper’s official driver and, at 22, he won his first worldwide championship Grand Prix. The meeting between Bruce and Jack Brabham was the key: a friendship first, then he became his pupil, finally, he took over his place at Cooper.

The New Zealand International GPA directors supported a young Bruce so that he perfected his talent and Brabham fixed him up at Cooper. In 1958, Bruce debuted in F1 with his F2 car at the Nürburgring Grand Prix and he won as first in his class and fifth overall. In 1959, driving a real F1 car, a 2500cc Cooper finished in third overall in the “2000 Miles” race at Aintree. At the British GAP. McLaren fought wheel to wheel with Stirling Moss and he won by only two-tenths of a second. At the Sebring GP, he won his first victory in a worldwide race at only 22 years old. In 1960, he was the vice world champion, with 34 points.

Towards the end of 1965, Bruce became a constructor, he left Cooper to race in F1 with the McLaren M2B. In ’66, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Amon, behind the wheel of the Ford GT40. In 1968, the project for the new M7A McLaren, powered by the V8 Ford Cosworth DFV engine claimed its first victory at the Belgian GAP. He came third in 1969’s World Championship, with 28 points. During the same year, McLaren won the Can-Am Trophy with his M8B. On the 2nd June 1970, at Goodwood, Bruce was busy testing the new M8D, but an exit from the track was fatal. His teaching, the determined commitment and his name cannot be forgotten.