Edward Mayer

Background

Mayer was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Education

Cornell Law School.

Career

Foreign 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 Universal Service Administrative Company, CART, and CanAm racing under Mayer"s management. Towards the end of the decade the team"s Formula 1 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.

While the results were poor, the team showed great potential with the car generally regarded as one of the best in the F1 paddock but was let down by the under powered Ford Training and Enterprise Council turbo engine, until the acquisition of sponsor Beatrice forced the team"s withdrawal. Following a year"s 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.

Both live in the United States.

Mayer died on January 30, 2009, of complications following his decade-long struggle with Parkinson"s Disease.

Achievements

• The McLaren team won the Indianapolis 500 twice. A McLaren chassis entered by Roger Penske also won the 500. 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 alongside of former Ferrari and Renault driver Patrick Tambay.