BBC TopGear Recognises Gordon Murray For Lifetime Of Automotive Excellence

Professor Gordon Murray CBE has received top industry recognition for a lifetime of unmatched design and engineering contributions to the automotive industry across Formula One and supercars. The award follows his creation of the T.50 supercar – a vehicle many consider as the world’s finest driver’s car. Built by premium British manufacturer Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA), the T.50 follows Gordon’s countless other achievements including the McLaren F1 and five Formula One championship wins with Brabham and McLaren.

Jack Rix, BBC TopGear, Editor-in-Chief: “This is a man who got his first F1 chief designer job aged just 26. A man who went on to bend physics – and the rulebook – to his will and become one of the most successful F1 designers of all time. When F1 got a bit boring, he designed the McLaren F1 – and even into his 70s he spearheads a company that is behind the most brilliant, lightweight, analogue supercars the world has ever seen. His commitment to lightweight is matched only by his commitment to facial hair. He’s a legend in his own lifetime. Gordon, TopGear salutes you.”

Bestowed by globally respected outlet BBC TopGear, the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ acknowledges the industry-leading innovation, imagination, and desire for absolute perfection that Gordon has exhibited for almost 60 years. Throughout his esteemed career Gordon has built a reputation for clarity of vision, and a confidence in disrupting industry norms that is rarely seen across motorsport or road car production.

Professor Gordon Murray CBE, Executive Chairman: “I am deeply humbled to receive a lifetime achievement award as I’ve simply been lucky enough to pursue my dreams and to create vehicles I love. I’ve always been surrounded by a talented and creative team who share my vision for driving perfection, so this award is for them too. I’m delighted that, for almost 60 years, I’ve had the good fortune to work with Formula One drivers, and supercar owners who are as passionate as I am about making and driving great cars.”

Gordon designed his first car in 1965 before moving to the UK to join the Brabham Formula One Team as Technical Director. There, he won two world championships (1981 and 1983), before moving to McLaren as Technical Director in 1988 where he was influential in three consecutive world championship wins – 1988, 1989 and 1990.

After achieving 50 Formula One Grand Prix wins, Gordon went on to establish a new company – McLaren Cars Limited. The company’s first project was the world-famous McLaren F1 road car. In 1995, a racing version won two world sports car championships and the Le Mans 24-hour race. He guided several other successful projects at McLaren Cars, culminating with the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren programme.

In 2007, Gordon formed a new British company for the design, engineering, prototyping and development of vehicles – Gordon Murray Design Limited. The Surrey-based company grew a global reputation as one of the finest automotive design teams in the world and pioneered an innovative and disruptive manufacturing technology – iStream.

In 2017, Gordon founded premium British supercar manufacturer Gordon Murray Automotive with a clear objective – to build the world’s greatest driver’s car. Continuing his lifelong passions for design purity, lightweighting, and engineering art, the company’s first supercar – the T.50 – received global acclaim.

Customer T.50 supercars are manufactured at the company’s new £50 million headquarters and Vehicle Production Centre with more than a third of deliveries already made to owners around the world. When production of the exclusive 100-unit run concludes in 2025, GMA will begin building the track-only T.50s promising the world’s most rewarding circuit-driving experience. The GMA T.33 Coupe and Spider then follow with the model celebrating 1960s-inspired design paired with the team’s renowned engineering skill. With unwavering focus on driving perfection, exclusivity, and engineering art, the T.33 model range is set to live up to the unmatched standards set by Gordon throughout his career.