Ron Dennis to quit

By Jamie Fretwell

16th January 2009

After 28 years at the helm, Ron Dennis says he will step down as the principal of Formula One team McLaren on March 1 this year.

The shock announcement comes as McLaren unveiled their 2009 Formula One challenger at their headquarters in Woking, Surrey. His departure will pave the way for long serving deputy Martin Whitmarsh, but Dennis, who is one of the best-known figures in the sport, insisted he was not retiring and would remain intimately involved with the team.

Dennis, 62, will retain his role as executive chairman of the McLaren Group of companies, as he has run McClaren since 1981 and helped to transform what was then an uncompetitive team into one of the leading forces in Formula One.