The grave of McLaren‘s founder Bruce McLaren and those of his family at the Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland, New Zealand, were vandalized by anonymous people. Subsequently, the family’s trust released a statement regarding the incident and condemned the act.

McLaren laid the foundation stone for his eponymous Woking-based team. Moreover, he helped the squad develop into a world championship-winning squad, even though he was unable to witness that feat with his own eyes.

Bruce died in 1970 while testing a car at the Goodwood circuit. The rear bodywork of the car suddenly came off, destabilising the platform. That led him to crash into a bunker, leading to his death.

Though he spent his last decade mainly in the United Kingdom, Bruce was buried in New Zealand, where he hailed from. The grave stones of his family members were also placed alongside him.

Someone has now vandalized these graves, and the family’s trust has released a statement:

“It is with dismay that we need to inform our followers that the graves of Bruce, Patty, Ruth and Pop at Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland have recently been vandalised. They have been sprayed with gold paint and had to cars stuck onto them. We are lost for words as to why anyone would do this. A very kind offer has been made by The Grave Guardians, a voluntary organisation that restores head stones to repair the damage, for which we are extremely grateful. While this work is being undertaken, the stones are wrapped and and unable to be viewed.”

The McLaren F1 team has been involved in the sport since 1966, with Ferrari being the only team older than them.

Bruce McLaren brought home McLaren’s first race victory without even knowing it

The Kiwi had been racing in F1 since 1958. He was able to secure his maiden race win in 1959, and finished runner-up in the standings in 1960.

But he was unable to return to the top step of the podium in the following years, facing multiple near misses on Grand Prix weekends. With McLaren starting an F1 team in 1966, his third and the squad’s first F1 victory came to pass at the Belgian GP. Though he started sixth for the race, he made his way up the order and looked set to finish second.

However, all did not go well for Jackie Stewart, who had to peel into the pits on the final lap for a dash of fuel, which propelled Bruce to first place without him even knowing it. Reflecting on the race win, he later wrote (via McLaren):

“I crossed the line, gave a bit of a wave at the Chequered Flag, braked hard, pulled in behind the pits and tried to drive the car back up to our transporter. Second place wasn’t too bad.”

After he climbed out of his car, a passing-by BRM mechanic revealed to Bruce that he had won. Bruce added:

“He said: ‘You’ve won, didn’t you know?’ It was about the nicest thing I’d ever been told.”

McLaren has since gone on to win 10 constructors’ championships in F1. If either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri claims the drivers’ crown this year, then the drivers’ tally would jump up to 13.