McLaren has introduced its new motorhome, known as Team Hub, at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
The team says the revised, streamlined and upgraded facility will reduce the emissions produced by its race weekend operationsThe structure, which is home to the team’s staff at circuits during race weekends, has replaced the previous Brand Centre, which was introduced in 2007.
The vast Brand Centre, used for European rounds of the world championship, required 18 trucks to transport it between venues. The new ‘Team Hub’ uses only eight, which the team say has reduced its carbon footprint by around half.
Unlike the Brand Centre, which was housed at the McLaren Technology Centre in Britain between races, the new Team Hub will operate from a base in mainland Europe. This will further cut the mileage it has to cover, and reduce its journeys across the English Channel, which have been complicated by Britain’s departure from the European Union.
To reduce waste, McLaren has reused and recycled much of the previous Brand Centre to create its Team Hub. Much of the previous structure and materials has been retained.
As well as reducing its carbon emissions, the team also expect its new motorhome will be less costly to run.
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Tristan (@skipgamer)
23rd May 2021, 12:06
I’d love to see how they set these up and tear them down, fascinating all on its own.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
23rd May 2021, 12:57
Yes please! I’m a fan of a montage or a time lapse
J Soulsby (@jmsoulsby)
23rd May 2021, 12:12
Made me smile to see that their drivers’ numbers are now consecutive. Hadn’t realised that up to now. Looks like street numbering.
Simon
25th May 2021, 23:59
Tyrrell also had car numbers 3 and 4, if I remember correctly
Hairs_
23rd May 2021, 12:21
This looks like the previous motor home which the brand centre replaced. I seem to remember this site had an article about Mclaren kicking off the motorhome wars with it in the early 2000’s
Ian Tommins (@thelem)
23rd May 2021, 12:32
How have they managed to go from 18 trucks to 8? Is it smaller? Or does it just pack tighter because of straight lines rather than curves.
Mr Fabulous (@mrfabulous)
23rd May 2021, 12:51
“The vast Brand Centre, used for European rounds of the world championship, required 18 trucks to transport it between venues. The new ‘Team Hub’ uses only eight, which the team say has reduced its carbon footprint by around half.”
See: some of the sharpest minds in the world work in F1…… :-)
chimaera2003 (@chimaera2003)
23rd May 2021, 12:53
@john-h I remember we spoke about this in a previous thread. My point was that if they were to completely remanufacture the building then surely just use the existing to destruction if carbon was the ultimate driver.
However it seems they have tried to re-use as much as possible which makes my point moot (whilst also being very senisble).
John H (@john-h)
23rd May 2021, 16:30
@chimaera2003 Yes it seems like the best of both worlds. Of course repurposing materials is always going to be the best approach if possible, my point before was that using the old home until it falls apart might cost more environmentally in terms of keeping it running (and indeed in terms of transportation).
Rebuilding a new structure with low operational energy use but with reclaimed materials is the ideal scenario.
Now if only they weren’t building a new energy sapping wind tunnel, but that’s for another discussion and of course not McLaren’s fault!!