Volkswagen racing director Capito joins McLaren F1

McLaren has appointed Volkswagen motorsport director Jost Capito as his new chief executive officer, while Jonathan Neale becomes chief operating officer in a major senior management overhaul.

Both will report directly to McLaren Group executive chairman and CEO Ron Dennis, with racing director Eric Boullier supportive of the moves.

Most recently, Capito has been responsible for Volkswagen’s engagement in motorsport and steered the works team to three WRC constructor’s titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015, as Sébastien Ogier secured a similar treble in the Drivers’ standings.

“I first approached Jost last summer,” Dennis said. “He is an extremely impressive, competitive and ambitious individual, who comes to us with a very wide range of automotive and motorsport experience, encompassing senior positions at BMW, Porsche, Ford, Sauber and, since 2012, Volkswagen.

“From a motorsport perspective he has experience in not only the World Rally Championship but also sportscars, touring cars, motorcycle racing and Formula 1, about which he is hugely knowledgeable and infectiously passionate.

“I am therefore delighted to welcome Jost to McLaren, and I am certain that he will work extremely well with Eric and all at McLaren Racing, building on the very good work they have already done to take the McLaren-Honda programme forward towards grand prix victories and world championship successes.”

Commenting upon Neale’s new position, Dennis said: “Consistent with McLaren Technology Group’s strategy of driving continuous growth, Jonathan has been promoted to the position of COO.

“He has done an excellent job as acting CEO of McLaren Racing – and that experience, together with the expertise he has attained in non-motorsport industry positions previously, makes him ideally suited to such an important new role at McLaren Technology Group.”

McLaren finished a lowly ninth in the last year's F1 constructors' championship, its worst result since 1980.

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