McLaren Applied Technologies triumphs with British bobsleigh ladies

The success of Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke, who won last week’s Women’s World Bobsleigh Championships in Lake Placid, USA, not only continued Great Britain’s sensational run of international sporting achievement but also marked a victory for the McLaren Group.

The world title, which topped a superb top-three finish for Minichiello and her two brakewomen in the 2008-’09 World Cup series, was achieved with the assistance of McLaren Applied Technologies – the innovations arm of the McLaren Group.

McLaren Applied Technologies provided technical assistance to the British women’s team as part of the company’s wide-ranging brief to develop and provide cutting-edge technical solutions for a broad range of global clients.

With external funding unavailable to finance the design and build of a new sled, McLaren Applied Technologies instead identified several key areas for performance improvement on the British ladies' team’s existing model and, after receiving support from the UK Sport Research & Innovation programme, set about making modifications ahead of the new season.

McLaren Group Chairman and CEO Ron Dennis said: "As last week’s result testifies, the British team’s success showcases the McLaren Group’s strength in depth and the world-beating know-how of McLaren Applied Technologies."