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Media release 0800 ET, September 10, 2020 — Popular UK BBC television program unveils 10-year old’s ground-breaking ‘supercar of the future’ winning design

. 10-year old Alex from created the innovative ‘Superganic 3000’ design selected as the overall winner of a competition created by McLaren Automotive and popular BBC children’s television program Blue Peter . His design was unveiled live on the programme as a clay model created by McLaren’s design team . Alex’s prize included a VIP trip to McLaren and a ride in a 720S with TopGear’s The Stig . Design Director Rob Melville and McLaren materials scientist Ella Podmore were among the judges . The competition was created to demonstrate the use of science, engineering and design skills in an exciting real-world environment as part of McLaren championing science and arts subjects Taking inspiration from nature, using advanced materials, and capable of being grown on a tree – all combined with stunning supercar looks - were the hallmarks of the winning design of McLaren’s ‘supercar of the future’ competition.

Ten-year old Alex’s design was unveiled live on popular British children’s television show Blue Peter – aired on the BBC kids’ network CBBC. His design enthused the expert judges with its future focused, sustainable design elements wrapped in a bold bodywork and aero efficient lines.

In one of Blue Peter’s most popular competitions, Alex’s design was chosen from thousands of entries received following the competition’s launch in May.

Design Director Rob Melville and his team then worked with Alex to turn his ideas and initial sketches into a large-scale clay model as well as virtual renders to bring it to life.

In honor of Alex’s winning design, McLaren and its paint partner AkzoNobel have developed a special ‘Alex Leaf Green’ paint color. Like all the other paints used by McLaren, it is water-based. Customers can now choose to have their real-life McLaren personalized and sprayed by hand in the special new color.

Alex’s prize included not only an orange , awarded to competition winners and runners-up, but also a VIP trip to the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey where brand ambassador Amanda McLaren welcomed him and showed him where the supercars are hand-built. He also met with Rob and his team to work on his design and scientist Ella Podmore to discuss his car’s lightweight materials.

Alex then got to experience a supercar for himself with some special laps in a 720S driven around the TopGear track by The Stig himself.

Alex’s winning design will now go on display on the McLaren Technology Centre’s famous Boulevard and take pride of place alongside McLaren’s historic cars.

“Meeting Rob, Ella and Amanda, seeing where the supercars are made and getting a ride in a real McLaren has been incredible.

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“I liked working with the designers to see my winning design come to life and being able to sit in my design virtually was incredible as was getting to experience a 720S driven by The Stig around the TopGear track.

“I’m always sketching and drawing, especially cars, so to win the prize was amazing and after this I definitely want to work on supercars and new technologies when I’m older.” Alex, ‘supercar of the future’ competition winner

“Alex’s winning design was an instant standout with all the judges. It’s clear that not only is he a gifted artist, but he also has a clear vision and interest in science, how things work and what objects are made of. Those factors combine at McLaren and lead to technology and performance benefits. His idea of growing cars on trees is so innovative - which is also so true to McLaren’s spirit. If we can grow human body parts in the lab now, then why not sustainable car parts in the future?

“I hope the supercar of the future competition inspires others to be creative and to really push the boundaries of what we think is possible. Supercars are a very tangible expression of how art and science combine and produce innovation so some of the ideas we’re working on – and that Alex has come up with – will help create breakthroughs and future transport solutions that we can all benefit from in the future. Rob Melville, Design Director, McLaren Automotive

“We’d asked the Blue Peter audience to design something completely unique and we were overwhelmed by the creativity, effort and ideas that we saw. Well done to our runners up, Emily and Ossian, and all of the 8,000 kids from across the UK that entered this competition, you are amazing!

“It was so hard to decide a winner, but Alex’s Superganic 3000 car shaped like a green leaf stood out. He described his design as “sleek, streamlined, lightweight and incredibly beautiful” and we had to agree. Who can imagine if in the future there will be a biodegradable supercar made from graphene and powered by photosynthesis?” Ellen Evans, Editor, Blue Peter ______Ends

Notes to editors: Blue Peter is live on CBBC every Thursday at 5.30pm BST.

A selection of high resolution images accompanying this release is available to download from the McLaren Automotive media site – cars.mclaren.press

About McLaren Automotive: McLaren Automotive is a creator of luxury, high-performance supercars. Every vehicle is hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey, England. Launched in 2010, the company is now the largest part of the McLaren Group.

The company’s product portfolio of GT, Supercar, Motorsport and Ultimate models are retailed through over 85 retailers in 40 markets around the world.

McLaren is a pioneer that continuously pushes the boundaries. In 1981, it introduced lightweight and strong carbon fibre chassis into Formula 1 with the McLaren MP4/1.

Then in 1993 it designed and built the McLaren F1 road car - the company has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis since. As part of the Ultimate Series, McLaren was the first to deliver a hybrid hypercar, the McLaren P1™.

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2019 saw McLaren launch the 600LT Spider as well as the new GT, the track-only Senna GTR and unveiled the 620R and the McLaren Elva.

In 2020, McLaren launched the 765LT. In addition, it unveiled the all-new lightweight architecture innovated and manufactured at the £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre opened in the Sheffield region in the North of England that will underpin the next decade of McLaren’s electrified future.

To support the development, engineering and manufacture of its range of innovative sportscars and supercars, McLaren Automotive partners with world leading companies to provide specialist expertise, technology and solutions. These include AkzoNobel, Ashurst, Dell Technologies, Pirelli, Richard Mille and Tumi.

McLaren Group: The McLaren Group is a global leader in luxury automotive and technology and comprises three businesses: Automotive, Racing and Applied.

Further information:

Roger Ormisher Vice President, Communications & PR | McLaren North America Phone: +1 714 501 8137 Email: [email protected]

Lauren Dowdy Press Officer– North America | McLaren Automotive Limited Phone: +44 (0) 1483 241453 Mobile: +44 (0) 7818 537845 Email: [email protected]

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