Alastair Caldwell was the McLaren’s Chief Mechanic and Team Manager in their most successful years of ’74 and ’76. This website tells the inside stories of Formula 1 racing during a time of great change and excitement.
Read about Alastair’s childhood growing up in New Zealand, evading the police after illegal street races and skipping school to play pool and work on cars.
In 1967 Alastair returned to England and took a job as a cleaner at McLaren. Find out how he ascended to Team manager and the boss of racing legends such as Nelson Piquet and James Hunt.
In the eighties Alastair started Space Station, a self storage company in the UK. Learn how he went from motor racing to storage, taking inspiration from his travels.
Lots more information and stories can be found about Alastair in Alastair: The Man section.
Alastair is a legend in the World of Formula 1, having worked for McLaren, ATS and Brabhams and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Bruce McLaren, Teddy Mayer, Bernie Ecclestone and Denny Hulme.
Alastair’s contribution to the world of Formula 1 was vast and included inventing the six-speed gearbox and the air-starter, as well as being the first person to put skirts on Formula 1 racing cars.
Alastair was the boss of racing Legend James Hunt. He has stories about Hunt’s exploits, how he motivated him to drive faster, and the reason why they cut the ends off all his shoes.
After leaving Formula 1 racing and starting Space Station Alastair got behind the wheel of his wife’s car and became heavily involved in the world of historic rallying.
Read about his adventures, cars, and scrapes in the historic rallying section as he tears across Scotland, South America, the UK, and Norway.
Also find out about Alastair’s cars: from the legendary Cucaracha, the ‘Tarts car’, and the Rolls Royce.
News just in
Following finished second in class at the Beaujolais Classic Rally Tour and the cancellation of the London to Cape Town Rally Alastair, keen to stretch his driving legs, invited Hayden to be his co-driver in the Budapest to Bamako Rally. read more...
Alastair has successfully completed The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. He won a gold medal and finished in fifth overall position, third in class. Not bad for a truly unsuitable car read more...
Alastair has recently successfully completed the Southern Big Sky Adventure motorbike trip on his newly acquired Suzuki DR 650. read more...
In this picture
Alastair Caldwell, McLaren team manager, 1970s.
Friends and colleagues
The work manager came to work at 9 o’clock and he said to him ‘oh you’ll need a new cleaner, this bloke’s a mechanic.’
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