James McLean

**James McLean** is a racing driver from New Zealand. He previously raced in Formula One.

## Racing Career

James's racing career started in 1976 when he participated in a local hill climb event in which he placed 3rd. After the event, he joined a Mini racing league placing 4th and then 5th the year after. He advanced to Australian Formula Ford in 1978, achieving 6th with two podiums and one fastest lap. McLean left the series to join the New Zealand Rallying Championship where he finished 7th driving a Ford Escort RS1800. At the final stage of the season, James was approached by Guy Ligier who asked him if he wanted to drive for Ligier for the 1980 season. McLean accepted the offer.

### **Formula One**

McLean scored his first career points at the San Marino Grand Prix driving the JS11. He scored another point in Germany but was dropped by Ligier at the end of the 1981 season.

McLean was in talks to join the Smythe team for 1982 but the deal fell through and he instead joined ATS. After joining the ATS team for 1982, McLean failed to start in the opening race of the season before retiring in the 1982 United States Grand Prix. He made other sporadic appearances throughout the season before crashing out of the 1982 United States Grand Prix North and quitting the team after receiving heavy criticism for causing the crash. He was replaced by Laurent Leroux for the remaining races of the 1982 season. The reason for him leaving ATS was rumoured to be caused by undiagnosed pneumonia.

#### **1983**

After quitting ATS, McLean moved to the new Osella team for 1983. He finished in the points for the first time in two years on his debut with the Italian outfit.

#### **1984**

In 1984 he scored just one point, finishing 6th at the French Grand Prix. He finished 15th in the overall standings, beating teammate Ronnie Anderson. His performance in the 1983 and 1984 seasons earned him a drive for the Minardi team.

To keep himself occupied in the off-seasons he made guest appearances in the Australian Touring Car Championship.

#### **1985**

His 1985 season started off well with a points finish in Brazil. At the next race in Imola, he was forced to retire after his car suffered a tyre failure at *Tamburello*. McLean was unable to participate in the second race start as Minardi did not have a spare car. He finished 11th in Canada and had another points finish at Road America, where his teammate crashed out. McLean's frustration grew after he was taken out at the German Grand Prix by Juan Molina, who was later disqualified after the race. McLean said "I'm gonna break every bone in that Brazilian's nose" when he returned to the Minardi garage during the race. He then ran over to the Osella garage after the race and punched Molina in the face. McLean was given a warning by the FIA for the altercation.

The Austrian Grand Prix came with more bad luck for McLean. At the start of the race, debris from the first start became lodged on his front wing forcing him to slow down and have the team remove it in the pits. He was later forced to retire the car due to an electrical fire that the mechanics had spotted as McLean had driven past on lap 18. McLean was much luckier at the Italian Grand Prix, where after the restart he battled with Juan Molina and passed Steffen van Reynders a few laps later. James finished in 10th, taking his first points since the 1985 United States Grand Prix. McLean said after the race that "I Couldn't ask for more, especially at our home race."

Towards the end of the 1985 season he announced that he was in talks to be sponsored by New Zealand Airlines for 1986. However, the talks fizzled out and he was left without a seat. McLean's final races with Minardi brought mixed results. At Spa he finished 8th after a race of high attrition. After a poor strategy at the next race in Kyalami, he finished 13th. The Minardi cars were leading the backmarker teams early on in the Australian Grand Prix, before battling with the Tyrrells of Veikko Nyquist and Strip Weathers, as well as Javier Navarro. By lap four McLean was defending frantically from Javier Navarro and a few laps later his teammate Szel hit Nyquist, leading to them both retiring from the race. A race of high attrition saw high profile drivers retire such as home favourite Bruce Kerrigan. McLean eventually crossed the line in 5th, his best finish of the season. By finishing here he finished 12th in the drivers championship, overtaking 1983 champion Skylar West in the standings. This finish also pushed Minardi up to 7th place in the constructors. After the race he was distraught to hear of the passing of Vivaldo Margheriti. He labelled the FIA as "cowards" for not red flagging the race after Margheriti's crash and "careless" for not replacing a tire barrier after Wolff's crash at the same corner. McLean announced after the race that he was retiring. He said that "not enough is being done" and that "he wanted to be around for his boy."

## Charity work

After his visit to South Africa in 1982 for the Grand Prix, McLean was shocked by the damage AIDS/HIV had done to the country. He currently is an ambassador for UNAIDS.

## Personal Life

James's family lived in Oban, Argyll and Bute, Scotland but moved to New Zealand in 1957. They settled in the Devonport area of Auckland. As a result, James holds dual citizenship with British and New Zealand passports, but chooses to race under the New Zealand flag. He speaks fluent Scottish Gaelic, which he was taught by his mother.

His father Ian was a motorsport enthusiast, taking part semi-professionally in rallies in the 1960's and racing in the Tasman Series in the early to mid 1970's. He retired from motorsport in 1974, but supported James during his early hillclimb and rallying career.

James is good friends with Hungarian driver Gyozo Szel, who was also his teammate during the 1982 and 1985 seasons. He lives in Auckland with his girlfriend Anne Dumfries and son Donald, who was born on 26th January 1984. McLean is a big fan of the Auckland Aces cricket team and is the team's number-one ticket holder. He is also a fan of the band Fleetwood Mac. After retiring, James took up cooking and golfing at the McLean family ranch on the South Island and helped on the 65 hectare family farm. He returned to Formula One as a test and reserve driver for the Italian Minardi team for 1988.