Teddy Mayer 1935-2009

Ken Tyrrell (L) talks to McLaren boss Teddy Mayer

Former McLaren Formula One boss Teddy Mayer, who took over the team after the death of its founder, Bruce McLaren, has died at the age of 73 at his home in England.

Edward Everett "Teddy" Mayer (born September 8, 1935, and died January 30, 2009) was an American who enjoyed success in several categories of racing, including Formula One and IndyCars.

Mayer was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. While studying law at Cornell, he became involved in the Rev-Em Formula Junior team whose drivers included his brother Timmy and Peter Revson. After graduating in 1962 Mayer followed his brother and Revson to Europe and helped Bruce McLaren to set up his Formula One team. Despite the death of his brother in 1964, Mayer continued to be involved in motor sport and assumed control of the McLaren team after Bruce McLaren was killed in 1970.

For much of the 1970s McLaren enjoyed considerable success, with both Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt taking the drivers title. In addition to Formula One, McLaren also competed in CART and CanAm racing under Mayer's management.

Towards the end of the decade the teams results began to decline and title sponsor Marlboro engineered a merger with the Project 4 team run by Ron Dennis. Mayer remained as joint managing-director until 1982, when he sold his shares and left the team he had helped to create.

Teddy Mayer in 1978 at Watkins Glen

Mayer continued to work in motor sport, firstly in CART racing, running the Texaco Star team under the Mayer Motor Racing banner, and then in 1986 returning to Formula One as manager of Haas Lola, a new team he co-founded with Carl Haas and running 1980 World Champion, Alan Jones. While the results were poor, the team showed great potential, until the acquisition of sponsor Beatrice forced the team's withdrawal.

Following a years retirement, Mayer then returned to CART racing, joining the Penske team, as Vice-Chairman of Penske's motorsports operations, presiding over the teams' success in the 1990s.

He moved to a consultancy role with Penske, which he continued until 2007.

Mayer lived in England. He was formerly married to Sarah (Sally) Bryant (whom he divorced from in 1993) and has two children: Tim Mayer (named after Teddy's brother), who is also in motorsports currently serving as the chief operating officer of IMSA and the American Le Mans Series (and before that CART), and Anne. Both live in the United States.