Dave Ryan

New Zealand mechanic who spent 35 years at McLaren and later ran the Manor team as racing director

Dave Ryan

New Zealand mechanic who spent 35 years at McLaren and later ran the Manor team as racing director

Dave Ryan was a speedway racer in New Zealand before heading to Britain in his late teens and signing on at McLaren as a mechanic. He looked after Jochen Mass's M23 and was there when James Hunt won the 1976 world title.

After nearly a decade on the tools he became chief mechanic, then factory team manager, and from 1990 he ran the race and test teams at the track and at Woking. In 2008 he became sporting director. He left in April 2009 after 35 years and set up VonRyan Racing in GT racing. In November 2015 Manor appointed him racing director, and he worked with the team until its final race in Abu Dhabi before it folded in January 2017. Thirty five years at one team is a record most drivers never come near.

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