32 Facts About Ron Dennis

1.

Ronald Dennis CBE was born on 1 June 1947 and is a British businessman and Official British Business Ambassador for the United Kingdom.

2.

Ron Dennis is best known for his former role as owner, CEO, chairman and founder of McLaren Group.

3.

Between 1981 and 2009, Ron Dennis was the team principal of the McLaren Formula One team, and was instrumental in transforming the outfit into a regular world championship contender.

4.

Ron Dennis founded McLaren Automotive, producing supercars such as the McLaren F1, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, McLaren P1, and McLaren Senna.

5.

Ron Dennis is a main trustee for Tommy's, a miscarriage help charity.

6.

Ron Dennis is the Global Consultant for the state-owned China Minsheng Investment Group, the chairman for the UK Summit, and former owner of Absolute Taste.

7.

Ron Dennis was born and raised in Woking, England, and studied motor vehicle engineering at Guildford Technical College.

8.

Ron Dennis began working for the Cooper Formula One team in 1966 as a mechanic at the age of 18 where he worked alongside lead driver Jochen Rindt.

9.

Money was at a premium though and Ron Dennis was trying to find sponsorship.

10.

Rondel aspired to be more than a customer team and Dennis soon managed to find an additional backer to Grob and Vlassopulos in Motul, to help fund a Rondel F1 car.

11.

Ultimately Ron Dennis was unable to obtain sufficient funds to support the F1 venture, so Trundle continued with the Jessop-designed car while Vlassopulos and Grob took over ownership of the team, renamed Token Racing.

12.

Ron Dennis regrouped, forming a Marlboro-backed F2 team for two talented and well-sponsored drivers from Ecuador.

13.

In 1975 Ron Dennis founded the Project Three team, and his cars became race winners.

14.

In 1983 Ron Dennis persuaded then-Williams backer Mansour Ojjeh to become a partner in McLaren International.

15.

Ron Dennis then persuaded the retired Niki Lauda to return to Formula One for the 1982 season and at the season opening South African Grand Prix the double World Champion lined up alongside Watson at the start of the season.

16.

Ron Dennis signed Stefan Johansson from Ferrari for the 1987 season to partner Prost, but it was clear that the TAG engine was no longer competitive in the face of increased manufacturer involvement, and so Ron Dennis approached Honda, who were at the time supplying rivals Williams and Lotus.

17.

Ron Dennis made no secret that Johansson's seat was only temporary as his intention had been to sign the Brazilian Ayrton Senna to partner double champion Prost.

18.

Senna was under contract with Lotus for 1987 but Ron Dennis got his man and midway through the year it was announced that Senna would be joining the team, along with Honda, for three years from 1988.

19.

Ron Dennis then showed his anger in public after Prost, who won the race following an engine failure for Senna, dropped his winners trophy from the podium to the Tifosi showing how unhappy he was despite the win.

20.

Ron Dennis flung the Constructors winners trophy at Prost's feet and walked off the podium.

21.

In 2000 Ron Dennis was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

22.

Details of how Ron Dennis convinced Newey to stay have remained vague but rumours in the specialist motor racing press suggested a deal allowing the designer to work on racing yachts.

23.

Ron Dennis initially owned all of McLaren after buying out the original shareholders after Bruce McLaren's death.

24.

Ron Dennis had stepped down as CEO of McLaren in 2009, handing over the reigns to Martin Whitmarsh, but returned to his post in 2014 under the condition that he would seek investment to take a controlling interest in the company.

25.

In November 2016 Ron Dennis lost a court case against his fellow shareholders that saw him suspended from his position as chairman.

26.

Ron Dennis has held shares and founded numerous companies other than his major commitment, McLaren Technology Group.

27.

Until 2019, Ron Dennis was a business ambassador for the UK Government, working for The Department of International Trade.

28.

Ron Dennis holds the role as Global Adviser for Chinese investment group, Minsheng Investment.

29.

In 2007, Ron Dennis founded a charity, Dreamchasing, which aims to "help young people achieve their aspirations and, through their successes, to become inspirational role models for others".

30.

Ron Dennis's charity's first operation was a sponsorship programme for families in Ethiopia, which, supporting the Fida International charity, has assisted over 40 families out of poverty, additionally paying education costs to some.

31.

On 15 February 2008, Ron Dennis announced his separation and later divorce from his wife of 22 years, Lisa, with whom he has three children.

32.

In March 2011, Ron Dennis was banned from driving for six months after accumulation of points.