Studwelders logo
Estimating & general enquiries: 01291 626048
Estimating & general enquiries 01291 626048
covid icon
Covid-19 Update Studwelders Composite Floor Decks is adhering to all government guidelines throughout the pandemic and continues to react to this everchanging period. To find out how we are keeping our staff and customers safe, please click here.
Composite metal flooring

Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR)
Portsmouth

6th Nov 2014

6th Nov 2014
Portsmouth is now home to the Ben Ainslie Racing America's Cup sailing team after they were granted funding from the government and planning approval from the council.

Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) is now working on a permanent base and visitors’ centre at The Camber in Old Portsmouth. They hope to have it finished and the team operational by 1 May 2015, in time for a British challenge for the 35th America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport, which has never been won by a UK team.

BAR has said The Camber Quay is an area that epitomises Britain’s great maritime heritage and the team’s headquarters will incorporate sailing operations, research and development, boatbuilding, sports science and fitness facilities. It will also include accommodation for support services like commercial, sustainability, event management, communications, marketing and PR, along with a visitors’ centre to showcase innovation and technology. It will engage with the city, the region, the UK and internationally.

The base will showcase UK design, technology and innovation and we are planning the facility to achieve a BREEAM excellent rating.

This is a welcome development for the city, with the promise of jobs and economic benefits – there will be 90 direct jobs, with 500 + more indirectly created.

http://www.benainslieracing.com/

 

Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) was launched on June 10th 2014 in the presence of the Duchess of Cambridge. The team was conceived by four times Olympic gold medalist and 34th America’s Cup winner, Sir Ben Ainslie, with the long-term aim of challenging for Britain and bringing the America’s Cup back home to where it all began in 1851. Ben will develop and lead a British entry capable of winning the prestigious trophy, something Britain has so far never managed to achieve.

BAR is a commercial sporting team, with a number of individual private investors alongside corporate partners. The team is made up of some of the best British and international sailors, designers, builders and racing support.

Update – 10/03/2015

Former F1 chief joins BAR

Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) today announced that Martin Whitmarsh, former CEO of the McLaren Group and Team Principal of the McLaren F1 team, will be joining the British challenger for the 35th America’s Cup. Whitmarsh will take the position of Chief Executive Officer, working alongside Ainslie to bring the Cup home.

There are many sporting and technical similarities between the America’s Cup and Formula One, and Whitmarsh will bring the perfect skill set to the team; an engineering background and high-level experience of managing a technology company focused on top flight competition. Whitmarsh will report to Ben Ainslie – BAR’s Team Principal – and the board, on which he will have a seat.

“I’m delighted that Martin is joining us,” commented Ben Ainslie. “When we first started to put together the plan for BAR, McLaren were one of the aspirations. So it’s particularly appropriate to have one of the original architects of that model as our new CEO. Martin came highly recommended by many authoritative figures in the motorsport industry, and already has good relationships with several of our key partners, particularly the head of Red Bull Advanced Technologies, Adrian Newey.” Martin Whitmarsh worked with Adrian Newey at McLaren for nine years between 1997 and 2006.

Whitmarsh will join the team in the final few weeks before they move into their new purpose-built headquarters in Portsmouth. It was in the south coast city that Whitmarsh studied engineering at the city’s University, before starting his career at BAE Systems’ Hamble facility. He was quickly promoted to work on advanced composites in Weybridge, rising to Manufacturing Director before moving to join McLaren as Head of Operations in 1989. By 1997 he was Managing Director of the Formula 1 team, eventually rising to CEO of McLaren Racing and McLaren Group alongside his role as Deputy Chairman of the McLaren Automotive Group.

“After 25 years at McLaren it’s great to be able to turn my energies and experience to such an exciting sporting and technical challenge. McLaren developed into a multifaceted business, and I hope that my experience will help BAR in its aspiration for a sustainable business model, along with the clear goal of winning the America’s Cup and bringing it back to British waters,” commented Whitmarsh on the challenge ahead.

Martin Whitmarsh will take up his position with the team in April.

Contact Us

Estimating & General Enquiries

01291 626048

Email  

Studwelders Composite Floor Decks Ltd

Millennium House,
Severnlink Distribution Centre, Newhouse Farm Industrial Estate,
Mathern, Chepstow, Monmouthshire,
NP16 6UN
South Wales UK

Company logo Company logo Company logo
Part of the Composite Floor Deck Group of companies
Composite Floor Deck Group
© 2024, Studwelders Composite Floor Decks Ltd All rights reserved. Website by Plum Design.