Editing Gordon Murray

{{Short description|British automobile designer (born 1946)}}
{{about|the car designer|other people named Gordon Murray}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Gordon Murray
| post-nominals      = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}}

| image_size         = 
| caption            = Murray in 1981
| birth_name         = Ian Gordon Murray
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1946|6|18}}
| birth_place        = [[Durban]], [[Union of South Africa]]
| death_date         = 
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| nationality        = British
| citizenship        = 
| other_names        = 
| known_for          = [[Brabham]] Motor Racing<br />[[Team McLaren]]<br />[[McLaren F1]]
| education          = Glenwood High School
| alma_mater         = [[Durban University of Technology]]
| employer           = Gordon Murray Design (2005–present)<br />[[McLaren Group]] (1987–2004)<br />[[Brabham]] (1969–1986)
| occupation         = Executive chairman
| title              = 
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| signature          = 
| awards             = [[FIA Prize Giving Ceremony#FIA President Innovation Medal|FIA President Innovation Medal]]
| website            = https://gordonmurrayautomotive.com/
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Ian Gordon Murray''' {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}} (born 18 June 1946),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/teamboss/Gordon_Murray |title=Gordon Murray |publisher=oldracingcars.com |access-date=6 November 2012}}</ref> is a successful and influential South African-British<ref>{{cite web |title=Nelson Piquet |date=December 1981 |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1981/76/nelson-piquet |publisher=Motor Sport Magazine  |access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref> former ([[Formula One]]) [[Auto racing|race-car]] designer, renowned firstly as lead designer for both the [[Brabham]] and [[McLaren]] Formula&nbsp;1 racing teams, during 1969–1986 and 1987–1991 respectively, then as designer of high-end, high-performance [[sports car]]s and a variety of other innovative automotive projects.

After leaving McLaren, Murray founded the Gordon Murray Design consultancy and, in 2017, the low-volume specialist car manufacturing company [[Gordon Murray Automotive]], both now incorporated into the Gordon Murray Group.

==Early life==
The child of [[Scotland|Scottish]] immigrant parents, Murray was born and grew up in [[Durban]], [[South Africa]]. His father was a motorcycle racer and later prepared racing cars. Murray studied mechanical engineering at Natal Technical College, now [[Durban University of Technology]]. 

[[Image:1967 IGM-Ford T1.jpg|thumb|right|A recreation of the 1967 IGM Ford T.1. built using original drawings]]
He built and raced his own car, the IGM Ford, in the South African National Class during 1967 and 1968.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

==Formula One career==

===Brabham: 1969–1986===
Murray moved to England in 1969, hoping to find a job at [[Lotus Cars]]. But Murray was offered a job at [[Brabham]] after coincidentally meeting then Brabham designer [[Ron Tauranac]]. When [[Bernie Ecclestone]] took over the Brabham team, he appointed Murray Chief Designer. There Murray designed many [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grand Prix]] cars, some of which were World Championship Grand Prix winners. These designs include the extraordinary [[Brabham BT46|BT46B]], also known as "the Brabham fan car", as well as the World Championship winning [[Brabham BT49|BT49]] and [[Brabham BT52|BT52]]. Murray developed a reputation for an innovative approach to design, applied not only to car concepts and details but also to race strategy.<ref>Cross, N. and A. Clayburn Cross (1996) "Designing to Win: the methods of Gordon Murray, racing car designer", [http://ees.elsevier.com/destud/default.asp Design Studies], Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 91–107.</ref>

Between 1973 and 1985, Murray's Brabhams scored 22 Grand Prix wins, finished 2nd in the Constructors' Championship in 1975 and 1981,<ref>Henry, A. (1985) Brabham: The Grand Prix Cars, Hazleton Publishing, Richmond, Surrey, UK.</ref> and gave [[Nelson Piquet]] Drivers' Championships in 1981 and 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/181/|title=F1 Team & Drivers Hall of Fame: Nelson Piquet|publisher=[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]]|access-date=24 October 2007}}</ref> For the {{f1|1986}} season, Murray designed the radical and highly ambitious low-line [[Brabham BT55]], lowering overall ride height by inclining the engine and placing the driver in a recumbent position. However, the car was not a success, finishing only seven of the sixteen races in the season.

====List of Brabham Formula One cars designed by Gordon Murray====

*[[Brabham BT42]] (1973&ndash;1974)
*[[Brabham BT44]] (1974)
*[[Brabham BT44|Brabham BT44B]] (1975)
*[[Brabham BT45]] (1976)
*[[Brabham BT45|Brabham BT45B]] (1977)
*[[Brabham BT45|Brabham BT45C]] (1978)
*[[Brabham BT46]] (1978)
*[[Brabham BT46|Brabham BT46B]] (1978)
*[[Brabham BT46|Brabham BT46C]] (1978)
*[[Brabham BT48]] (1979)
*[[Brabham BT49]] (1979&ndash;1980)
*[[Brabham BT49|Brabham BT49B]] (1980)
*[[Brabham BT49|Brabham BT49C]] (1981&ndash;1982)
*[[Brabham BT50]] (1981&ndash;1982)
*[[Brabham BT49|Brabham BT49D]] (1982)
*[[Brabham BT52]] (1983)
*[[Brabham BT52|Brabham BT52B]] (1983)
*[[Brabham BT53]] (1984)
*[[Brabham BT54]] (1985&ndash;1986)
*[[Brabham BT55]] (1986)

===McLaren: 1987–1991===
In 1986, Murray received an offer from [[Ron Dennis]] to join [[McLaren]] as Technical Director, taking over the role formerly held by [[John Barnard]]. Murray brought his Brabham experience to the McLaren design team, led by Chief Designer [[Steve Nichols]]. The 1988 [[McLaren MP4/4|MP4/4]] car, with a Honda turbo-powered engine, won 15 of the season's 16 Grands Prix, and gave [[Ayrton Senna]] his first Drivers' Championship.<ref>McLaren MP4/4 Owners' Workshop Manual: 1988 (all models) - An insight into the design, engineering and operation of the most successful F1 car ever built (Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual), {{ISBN|978-1785211379}}</ref> In the Constructors' Championship, McLaren's points score of 199 was at that time an all-time high. Murray also oversaw the design of the naturally-aspirated engined 1989 [[McLaren MP4/5|MP4/5]] and 1990 MP4/5B with lead designer [[Neil Oatley]].<ref>Porter, Philip (2019) Gordon Murray: One Formula: 50 years of car design, Porter Press, Tenbury Wells, UK. Vol. 2.  pp. 486-558. {{ISBN|978-1913089061}}</ref> The MP4/5 and MP4/5B won the driver's and constructor's championships in both years. Over the period 1988–91, the McLaren team won four consecutive Constructors' and Drivers' Championships: [[Alain Prost]] won the Drivers' Championship in 1989, while Senna won further Drivers' Championships in 1990 and 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/45/|title=F1 Team & Drivers Hall of Fame: Ayrton Senna|publisher=[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]]|access-date=24 October 2007}}</ref>

==McLaren Cars==
From 1991 to 2004, Murray headed the offshoot [[McLaren Cars]] team to design road-going supercars, starting with the [[McLaren F1]] in 1992. In a lightly modified “LM” specification in 1995 it became the last road-legal sportscar to win the [[1995 24 Hours of Le Mans | 24 Hours of Le Mans]] endurance race outright, across all classes, including race places 1, 3, 4 & 5.

== Business ventures ==

===Gordon Murray Design===
{{see also|Gordon Murray Automotive}}

In July 2007 the Gordon Murray Design consultancy was established, and released initial details of its [[T.25]] (Type 25) prototype [[city car]] along with mention of a future lightweight, economical supercar project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gordonmurraydesign.com/t25.php |title=T.25 - The Facts |publisher=Gordon Murray Design Limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906161341/http://www.gordonmurraydesign.com/t25.php |archive-date=6 September 2009 |access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7387432.stm |work=BBC News  | title=Racing principles' role in cutting emissions | date=9 June 2008 | access-date=3 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=16289&intcmp=rss_4car_news |title=New Models: Gordon Murray's ultra-lightweight microcar: first details |publisher=Channel 4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114060453/http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=16289 |archive-date=14 January 2009 |access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref> The T25 would be smaller than a [[Smart Fortwo]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Tan |first=Paul |url=http://paultan.org/archives/2008/07/07/gordon-murray-t25/ |title=5 Things We Know About Gordon Murray's T25 City Car |publisher=Paultan.org |access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref> In 2008 Murray won the 'Idea of the Year' accolade at ''[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]'' magazine's annual awards ceremony for the manufacturing process for the T.25.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ed |url=http://www.gizmag.com/gordon-murrays-t25-wins-idea-of-the-year/10381/ |title=Wins 2008 Idea of the year |publisher=Gizmag.com |date=18 November 2008 |access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref>

In November 2009 Gordon Murray Design and [[Zytek Automotive]] announced plans to develop an electric-powered version of the T.25, the [[T.27]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8344532.stm |title=F1 Designer Unveils Electric Car |work=BBC News  |date=5 November 2009 |access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref> This car being a product of a partnership between Murray's company and British technology company [[Zytek]], in charge of building the powertrain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/244636/ |title=More details: T27 electric car |publisher=Autocar.co.uk |date=5 November 2009 |access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref>

The T.25 won the 2010 Royal Automobile Club’s Future Car Challenge, with a 97 miles per gallon fuel consumption over the 60 mile course from Brighton to London. The next year the T.27 won the electric car class and best overall.<ref>{{cite web | author=<!-- not stated -->|date=2011|url=http://www.greenmotor.co.uk/2011/11/gordon-murrays-t27-wins-2011-future-car.html/ |title= Gordon Murray's T27 Wins 2011 Future Car Challenge|publisher=GreenMotor.co.uk |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref>

In 2019 a celebration of 50 years of Murray's involvement in the car industry was held, called ''One Formula''. Every one of Murray's F1 designs was on display along with the McLaren F1 roadcar and examples from his personal car collection, along with hundreds of rock band T-shirts that Murray had collected over the years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oneformulagordonmurray.com/en/|title=Gordon Murray One Formula|website=oneformulagordonmurray.com}}</ref> The book ''One Formula - 50 years of car design'' details Murray's designs.<ref>{{Cite book| first1=Gordon | last1=Murray | first2=Philip | last2=Porter | title=One Formula - 50 years of car design|publisher=Porter Press International|language=en | year=2019 | isbn=9781907085307}}</ref>

On 4 August 2020, Gordon Murray Automotive announced the [[GMA T.50|T.50]] sports car, the "logical successor" to the [[McLaren F1]] and incorporating the "fan car" concept of the Brabham [[BT46B]], which went into production in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gordon Murray T50 is V12-powered McLaren F1 successor|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/gordon-murray-t50-v12-powered-mclaren-f1-successor|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Autocar|language=en}}</ref>

On 27 January 2022, Gordon Murray Automotive announced the [[Gordon Murray Automotive T.33|T.33]] super car. A twin-seater, potentially 'day to day' sportscar with the same engine as the T.50, but built on a new platform to be used by three other future cars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/first-look/gordon-murray-automotive-reveals-607bhp-v12-engined-t33|title=Gordon Murray Automotive reveals 607bhp, V12-engined T.33|date=27 January 2022|website=Topgear.com|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILycsqvRnb4|title=Gordon Murray reveals the secrets behind his new T.33 supercar & why he loves V12 engines|access-date=11 February 2022|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

=== Gordon Murray Group and Gordon Murray Technologies ===
In addition to founding Gordon Murray Design (GMD) in 2007, Murray later established the broader Gordon Murray Group, which includes Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) and Gordon Murray Technologies (GMT). GMT serves as the group's dedicated engineering and technology division, with an expanded focus on electrification, lightweight structures, and future mobility platforms.

In July 2023, Abu Dhabi–based CYVN Holdings acquired a controlling stake in Gordon Murray Technologies. The investment was made to support GMT’s expansion and accelerate its development of electric and autonomous vehicle technologies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gordon Murray Group announces strategic investment by CYVN Holdings |url=https://gordonmurray-production.s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/media/documents/GMG_release_final_05.07_BhAA0v5.pdf |website=Gordon Murray Group |date=5 July 2023 |access-date=7 April 2025}}</ref>


==Other projects==
In 1981, Murray was involved in improvements for [[Midas Cars]].

[[File:LCC Rocket.jpg|thumb|[[Light Car Company]] 'Rocket']]
Murray independently designed the ''Rocket'', an ultra-lightweight, open cockpit roadster powered by a 1-litre motorcycle engine, which has an appearance similar to that of a 60's era Grand Prix car. Looking like a single-seater, it could accommodate a passenger in tandem with the driver, the second seat located beneath a removable cover. The ''Rocket'' was built by former racing driver [[Chris Craft (racing driver)|Chris Craft]] at the [[Light Car Company]].

In September 2016 it was announced that Murray had been appointed to develop the OX truck, a flat pack low-cost vehicle, for the British charity [[Global Vehicle Trust]] (GVT).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/shell-power-progress-global-vehicle-trust-ox-inventive-flat-pack-truck/|title= Shell to further power progress on the Global Vehicle Trust OX: the inventive flat-pack truck |website= Automotive World |access-date= 16 October 2020 |date= 11 April 2018}}</ref> GVT founded [[OX Delivers]] to utilise the design to make last-mile transport more accessible and reliable in emerging markets. Murray created four experimental prototypes; XP1-XP4. XP2, XP3, and XP4 are owned by OX Delivers, with one of the vehicles having been converted to a fully-electric truck. OX then went on to build 2 more electric trucks adapting the original design for EV use. XP1 is owned by Murray for his private collection.

From 2015, Murray collaborated with [[TVR]] to design the upcoming TVR models,<ref>{{cite web|title=TVR confirms carbonfibre chassis for new sports car|url=http://www.evo.co.uk/tvr/16073/tvr-confirms-carbonfibre-chassis-for-new-sports-car|website=Evo|access-date=6 September 2016|date=21 January 2016}}</ref> with the TVR Griffith released in 2017.

==Honours==
His alma mater, Durban University of Technology, made Gordon Murray an Honorary Professor in 2002 and awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2011.
In the [[2019 New Year Honours]] list Murray was awarded a [[CBE]] for services to motoring.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/gordon-murray-made-cbe-2019-new-year-honours/163056|title=Gordon Murray is made a CBE in 2019 New Year Honours|publisher=Car Dealer Magazine. 28 December 2018 | access-date=28 December 2018}}</ref>
In 2022 Murray was awarded the inaugural [[FIA]] President's Innovation Medal, 'for his constant innovative approach to race and road car design'.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fia.com/news/fia-champions-honoured-record-breaking-motor-sport-year|title=FIA President's Innovation Award|publisher=FIA. 10 December 2022 | access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref>
In 2024 Murray was awarded the BBC Top Gear Lifetime Achievement Award as 'arguably the greatest and most original thinker in both Formula One and the wider automotive sphere'.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/2024-topgearcom-awards/best-cars-year-meet-winners-2024-topgearcom-awards|title=Lifetime achievement award: Gordon Murray|publisher=BBC. November 2024 |access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.gordonmurraydesign.com/en/?cultureKey=en Official website of Gordon Murray Design] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226223553/https://www.gordonmurraydesign.com/en/?cultureKey=en |date=26 December 2019 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100805225627/http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/data/technical-analysis-anatomy-of-a-supercar ROAD & TRACK magazine: "Anatomy of a Supercar"] – an article where Murray gives his opinion about the [[Bugatti Veyron]]
*[http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/06/28/murray.green.car.launch/index.html?hpt=P1&iref=NS1 (CNN) Former F1 Engineer Unveils New City Car --retrieved 28 June 2010]
*[http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=16289&intcmp=rss_4car_news Channel 4 web site] – Gordon Murray's ultra-lightweight microcar: first details.
* [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gordon-murray-technologies/ Gordon Murray Technologies on LinkedIn]


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{{McLaren}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Gordon}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Durban]]
[[Category:South African people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:South African automobile designers]]
[[Category:McLaren people]]
[[Category:Formula One designers]]
[[Category:Plug-in hybrid vehicle industry]]
[[Category:South African motorsport people]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Durban University of Technology alumni]]