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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.18
                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

         This Agreement made and entered into this first day of April 1999 by
and between ASHA Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under
and pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to as
"ASHA/McLaren or the "Company") and John C. McCormack, an individual residing in
the city of Santa Ynez, State of California (hereinafter referred to as
"McCormack").

         WHEREAS, ASHA/McLaren is engaged in the development, marketing and sale
of Intellectual Properties as well as in Contractual Engineering and Engine
Development via its subsidiary McLaren Engines, Inc., and is desirous of
entering the automotive after market, and has employed McCormack since February
1, 1995 first as President and Chief Operating Officer and since January, 1998
as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer;

         WHEREAS, both ASHA/McLaren and McCormack have agreed that McCormack
shall resign from his position and employment with ASHA/McLaren and in so doing
vacate the offices of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
ASHA/McLaren;

         WHEREAS, McCormack, in order to facilitate a smooth and orderly
transition of ASHA/McLaren's senior management agrees to retention by
ASHA/McLaren as a consultant to the new Chairman and the new President and Chief
Operating Officer of ASHA/McLaren; and

         WHEREAS, both ASHA/McLaren and McCormack wish to formalize this
relationship, in contractual form, it is hereby agreed that ASHA/McLaren will
retain McCormack and McCormack will accept retention by ASHA/McLaren as a
consultant pursuant to the terms hereof,

         NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as
follows:

1.       Resignation. McCormack hereby acknowledges and agrees that he
         voluntarily and irrevocably resigns from his positions and employment
         with ASHA/McLaren effective April 21, 1999. Provided however; McCormack
         shall remain a member of ASHA/McLaren's Board of Directors through
         September 30, 1999.

2.       Consulting.

         (a)  At the reasonable request of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief
              Operating Officer or Board of Directors of ASHA/McLaren; McCormack
              agrees to provide consulting services to ASHA/McLaren during the
              period commencing on April 21, 1999 and ending on April 20, 2000
              ("Consulting Term"). Such consulting services shall include advice
              on transitional issues, financial matters, customer and public
              relations, and other mutually agreeable projects. After April 21,
              1999, McCormack shall no longer be an employee of ASHA/McLaren
              and the consulting services shall be rendered as an independent
              contractor. McCormack shall endeavor to render his

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              services to ASHA/McLaren at a time and in a manner reasonably
              convenient to ASHA/McLaren and McCormack. McCormack shall be
              entitled to reasonable vacation and leisure time during which he
              shall have no obligation to provide any consulting services.
              McCormack shall have no liability or obligation for any consulting
              services he performs or any action or omission on the part of
              ASHA/McLaren or any of its subsidiaries based thereon.

              Within ten (10) days after the conclusion of each month during the
              Consulting Term, McCormack agrees to submit a report to the Chief
              Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer detailing the
              consulting services provided for the previous month. This report
              shall include an outline of specific actions recommended and
              planned during the next ninety (90) days.

3.       Compensation. The compensation for consulting services rendered
         pursuant to this Agreement and the consideration for the releases and
         non-competition covenants contained in this Agreement shall consist of
         the following:

         (a)  ASHA/McLaren shall pay to McCormack the annual amount of $147,000
              payable in twenty-six (26) equal and consecutive installments of
              $5,653.85 each on the Friday of every second week of the month
              during the term of this Agreement beginning April 30, 1999 and
              ending April 14, 2000.

         (b)  Upon the effective date of this Agreement, McCormack shall be
              granted an option to purchase 50,000 shares of ASHA/McLaren common
              stock at a price equal to the closing price of ASHA common stock
              on the date of grant. 25,000 of such shares of ASHA common stock
              will vest upon the effective date of this Agreement. The remaining
              25, 000 shares will vest upon a motion made and approved by the
              Board of Directors of ASHA/McLaren at the conclusion of the
              Consulting Term that McCormack has fulfilled all of his
              obligations pursuant to this Agreement. The expiration date of
              such options shall be in accordance with the terms of the Notice
              of Grant for such options.

         (c)  McCormack SHALL be compensated for his reasonable expenses
              incurred in connection with consulting activities under this
              Agreement.

         (d)  All options currently held by McCormack shall remain valid until
              the stated expiration date of the options.

         (e)  the full or complete payment of compensation described in this
              Agreement shall be considered as fulfilling all of the Company's
              compensation obligations to McCormack, including salary, bonuses,
              unpaid vacation and stock options.

4.       Other Compensation and Benefits. During the Consulting Term, McCormack
         shall be entitled to participate in and receive the same benefits under
         ASHA/McLaren's group life, health, dental and medical/hospital in
         effect from time to time.

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         McCormack shall be supplied with a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee presently
         in use as a test vehicle for his own personal use during the Consulting
         Term. At the termination of the Consulting Term, he may purchase the
         vehicle at this option for a price equal to 50% of the then wholesale
         Blue Book value of the vehicle. McCormack shall also have available for
         his personal use the Apple computer that he currently uses and shall be
         allowed to purchase this computer at its fair market value at the
         termination of the Consulting Term.

5.       Non-Competition. McCormack agrees that during and for a period of one
         year after the expiration of the Consulting Term (the "Non-Compete
         Period"), McCormack shall not, directly or indirectly, without the
         prior written consent of ASHA/McLaren:

         (a) solicit, entice, persuade or induce any employee, consultant, agent
             or independent contractor of ASHA/McLaren or of any of its
             subsidiaries or affiliates to terminate his or her employment with
             ASHA/McLaren or such subsidiary or affiliate, to become employed by
             any person, firm or corporation other than ASHA/McLaren or such
             subsidiary or affiliate or approach any such employee, consultant,
             agent or independent contractor for any of the foregoing purposes,
             or authorize or assist in the taking of any such actions by any
             third party (for purposes of this Section 5(a), the terms
             "employee," "consultant," "agent" and "independent contractor"
             shall include any persons with such status at any time during the
             six (6) months preceding any solicitation in question); or

         (b) directly or indirectly engage, participate, or make any financial
             investment in, or become employed by or render consulting, advisory
             or other services to or for any person, firm, corporation or other
             business enterprise, wherever located, which is engaged, directly
             or indirectly, in competition with ASHA/McLaren's business or the
             businesses of its subsidiaries or affiliates as conducted or any
             business proposed to be conducted at the time of the expiration or
             termination of the Consulting Term; provided, however, that nothing
             in this Section 5(b) shall be construed to preclude McCormack from
             making any investments in the securities of any business
             enterprise.

6.       Termination of Employment Agreement. McCormack and ASHA/McLaren hereby
         agree that the Employment Agreement between McCormack and the Company
         dated February 1, 1997 has terminated and is rendered null and void and
         that ASHA/McLaren shall not have any obligation or liability
         thereunder.

7.       General Release.

         (a) In exchange for the full and complete execution of payments
             described herein, McCormack and his heirs, executors,
             administrators and assigns hereby forever release and discharge
             ASHA/McLaren and its shareholders, subsidiaries, related entities
             and affiliates, their respective predecessors, successors,
             assigns, and past, present or future officers, partners,
             directors, shareholders, employees, agents,

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              trustees, from any and all claims, demands, liens, agreements,
              covenants, actions, suits, causes of action, obligations,
              controversies, costs, expenses, damages, judgments, orders, and
              liabilities of whatever kind or nature, in law or in equity, by
              statute or otherwise, whether now known or unknown, vested or
              contingent, which exist or have existed prior to the date of this
              General Release ("Claims").

         (b)  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Claims with
              respect to McCormack shall include any claims and liabilities
              relating to or arising out of McCormack's employment or
              termination of employment by ASHA/McLaren and any and all claims
              of employment under the United States Constitution, Title VII of
              the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Americans with
              Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Age Discrimination in
              Employment Act of 1967, as amended ("ADEA"), and any other local,
              state or federal law, order, regulation, or ordinance relating to
              employment or otherwise.

         (c)  The parties acknowledge that this Agreement, when duly and
              completely executed, is intended to constitute a full and final
              settlement, mutual release and bar to all employment related
              claims of any kind, known or unknown which the parties may have
              against each other. The Parties acknowledge that they are familiar
              with Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California,
              which provides as follows:

                  "A general release does not extend to claims which the
                  creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the
                  time of executing the release, which, if known by him, must
                  have materially affected his settlement with the debtor."

              The parties expressly waive and relinquish any and all rights and
              benefits which they may have under Civil Code section 1542 to the
              fullest extent permissible under the law. The Parties acknowledge
              that they are aware that they, or their attorneys, may hereafter
              discover claims or facts in addition to or different from those
              which are known or believed to exist with respect to the subject
              matter of this Agreement, but that it is the Parties' intention to
              fully, finally and forever settle and release all claims known or
              unknown, suspected or unsuspected which the Parties may have
              against each other with respect to the subject matter of this
              Agreement.

8.       Cooperation Regarding Litigation. McCormack agrees to continue to
         cooperate with ASHA/MCLaren and its counsel with respect to pending or
         future litigation involving ASHA/McLaren. Such cooperation includes
         meeting with counsel for purposes of preparation for deposition and
         testimony at trial, if necessary in the opinion of ASHA/McLaren
         counsel. McCormack agrees he will not meet or have discussions with
         counsel for adverse parties without providing ASHA/McLaren's counsel an
         opportunity to be present during such meeting or discussion.
         ASHA/McLaren agrees to reimburse McCormack at a reasonable rate for the
         time spent by McCormack in litigation matters at the request of
         ASHA/McLaren after the expiration of the Consulting Term.

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9.       No Admission of Liability. ASHA/McLaren and McCormack understand and
         agree that this General Release is not intended to be and shall not be
         deemed, construed, or treated in any respect as an admission of
         liability by any person or entity for any purpose.

10.      Confidentiality. Neither party will divulge or discuss any aspects of
         this Agreement with third parties, except as may be required by law or
         by such party's legal or financial advisors. All hard copy and computer
         stored proprietary information owned by ASHA/McLaren will be documented
         and returned and recorded with the Chief Financial Officer of
         ASHA/McLaren. Any action by McCormack, intentional or unintentional,
         that breaches the confidentiality of ASHA/McLaren's strategy, plans,
         intellectual assets or any other confidential information or trade
         secrets of ASHA/McLaren shall constitute a material breach of this
         Agreement and the Company's obligation to pay any remaining
         consideration under this Agreement shall cease, and the Company shall
         be entitled to pursue additional remedies.

11.      McCormack and ASHA/McLaren acknowledge that it is their mutual intent
         that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act waiver contained in
         Section 7 above fully comply with the Older Workers Benefit Protection
         Act. Accordingly, this Agreement requires and McCormack acknowledges
         and agrees that:

         (a)  he has carefully read this General Release in its entirety and has
              had an opportunity to consider fully the terms of this General
              Release for at least twenty-one (21) days;

         (b)  that he has been advised and encouraged to consult with counsel of
              his choice regarding the terms and conditions of this General
              Release;

         (c)  that he has had answered to his satisfaction any questions he had
              asked with regard to the meaning and significance of any of the
              terms and conditions of this General Release;

         (d)  that he fully understands the significance of all the terms and
              conditions of the General Release;

         (e)  that after executing this General Release, he has a period of
              seven (7) days during which he may revoke this General Release by
              delivering a written revocation to ASHA/McLaren; and

         (f)  that he is signing this General Release voluntarily and of his own
              free will and assents to all the terms and conditions therein.

12.      Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
         this agreement, or a breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in
         Santa Barbara, California before a panel of Arbitrators selected as
         follows: Within ten (10) days of demand by either party for
         arbitration, each party will select one arbitrator and those two will
         select a third arbitrator, and those three shall constitute the panel.
         The arbitrator's decision will be by a majority vote. The arbitration
         shall not be appealable de novo by either party.

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13.      Entire Agreement. The foregoing constitutes the entire agreement
         between the parties and no modification of any of the provisions hereof
         shall be binding upon either McCormack or ASHA unless in writing and
         signed by the party against whom such modification is sought to be
         enforced.

14.      Interpretation. This agreement has been submitted to the scrutiny of
         all parties hereto and of counsel. This Agreement shall be controlled
         by the laws of the State of California.

15.      Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is declared void or
         unenforceable by any competent judicial or administrative authority,
         then any such provision shall be severed and all remaining provisions
         of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

16.      Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
         benefit of the successors, but will not be otherwise assignable without
         the written consent of the other party, which consent will not be
         unreasonably withheld.

JOHN C.MCCORMACK                              ASHA CORPORATION

/s/ John C. McCormack                         By: /s/ Robert J. Sinclair
---------------------------                      -------------------------

                                              Name:  Robert J. Sinclair
                                                   -----------------------

                                              Title:  Director
                                                    ----------------------

WITNESS

Print Name:  Nicholas P. Bartolini
             -----------------------------

Signature:   /s/  Nicholas P. Bartolini
             ------------------------------

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