history
Below is a timeline of Adrian Reynards life. To see a summary, click below.
23rd March
1951
Adrian is born
Adrian John Reynard is born in Welwyn, United Kingdom to parents Daphne and ‘Foxy’ Reynard.
Alleynes Gammar School
Alleynes Grammar School, 10 O Levels, 2 A Levels (Physics and Engineering Design), he graduates in 1969
1963
1968
British Aircraft Corporation Technology Prize
Adrian recieves the Sixth Form Technology Prize in both 1968 & 1969, the British Aircraft Corporation Technology Prize
Founded Oxford Polytechnic Automobile Club
Adrian Founded Oxford Polytechnic Automobile Club. He was elected president and successfully re-nominated until leaving in 1972.
1969
1970
Five World Land Speed Records and Six British National Records Broken
Adrian broke five Motorcycle World Land Speed Records and six British National records on self-designed and ridden Reynard motorcycle at Elvington Yorkshire
Broke all records again on first Reynard Vehicle
Adrian broke five World Land Speed Records and six British National Records at Elvington, Yorkshire again. He did it on the first Reynard vehicle – 250cc Motorcycle Projectile
1971
1971
Graduated from Oxford Polytechnic
Adrian Graduated from Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University) with a HND in Mechanical Engineering
Designed first Reynard Car
Adrian designed the first ever Reynard Car
1972
Founded Sabre Automotive Ltd
Adrian founded Sabre Automotive Ltd with partner Bill Stone. (renamed Reynard Racing Cars Ltd)
Built the first Reynard Car
Designed built and raced the first Reynard Formula Ford racing car. Won first race.
1973
1974
Project Engineer British Leyland
Adrian was appointed as a Project Engineer for British Leyland – Prototype Build and Development Department
MSc Vehicle Dynamics at Cranfield Institute of Technology
Adrian enrolled in a MSc in Vehicle Dynamics at Cranfield Institute of Technology
1975
1976
Chief Designer at Hawke Racing Cras
Adrian joined Hawke Racing Cars as Chief Designer
CEO & Founder at Reynard Racing Cars Ltd
Recruited by British Air Ferries as Chief Designer to design and build a Formula 1 car. Project abandoned and Adrian took up a full time position as CEO at Sabre Automotive Ltd which became Reynard Racing Cars Ltd.
1977
1979
Won the European FF2000 Championship
Adrian won European and British Formula Ford 2000 Championships. Adrian personally won the European Championship. Dominated category for 6 years
Received Technology Grant for Carbon Fibre Research
Adrian received a technology grant for carbon fibre research from Department of Industry
1984
Reynard dominated Formula 3
Reynard entered Formula 3, won first race and dominated category for 5 years.
Reynard Dominated F3000
Reynard won first race in F3000 and went on to win the international F3000 title at first attempt and again dominated this formula in Europe and Japan for the rest of the decade.
1988
1989
Design Council Award presented by Duke of Edinburgh
Adrian recieved the Design Council Award presented by the Duke of Edinburgh.
Queens Award For Export
Adrian collected the Queens Award for export
1990
1991
Elected Fellow of Royal Society of Arts
Adrian is elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Awarded Sir Henry Royce Gold Medal For Excellence
Adrian is awarded the Sir Henry Royce Gold Medal For Excellence
1992
1993
Elected Fellow of Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Chartered Engineer
Elected Fellow of Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Chartered Engineer
Honorary Doctorate in Engineering by Oxford Brookes University
Adrian recieves an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering by Oxford Brookes University
1994
Castrol Institute of Motor Industry Gold Medal
Reynard re-wrote the history books scoring a debut win from the front row of the grid when entering the IndyCar World Series.
Adrian recieves the Castrol Institute of Motor Industry Gold Medal for contributions to the Motor Industry
Indianapolis 500 – Team Winners Award
Reynard recieves Indianapolis 500 – Team Winners Award
1995
IndyCar Constructors Championship Award
IndyCar Constructors Championship Award (and again until 2001)
Indy 500 Winners Award
Reynard recieves Indy 500 Winners Award
Received ISO9002 Award
Reynard received ISO9002 Award for rapid implementation of manufacturing Export Achievement Award from the Motor Industry Association
Collected Queens Award For Export
Awarded the Queens Award for Export Achievements for a second time. The Manufacturing Division achieved ISO 9002 in a record six months.
1996
Reynard dominated the FedEx Championship Series
1996, 1997,1998,1999, 2000 and 2001. Reynard again dominated the FedEx Championship Series, winning the Constructor’s Championship, the Driver’s Championship and Rookie of the Year titles. 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 also saw Reynard winning the Japanese F3000 Series.
Elected Companion of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Co-Founded Reynard Aviation Ltd with Virgin Atlantic. Elected a Companion of the Royal Aeronautical Society, in recognition of his company’s pioneering technologies for innovative seat design for Virgin Upper Class.
1997
Appointed Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Adrian is appointed Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Cranfield University
Aquired Reynard Park
1997 – Present. Acquired 15 acre greenfield site in Northamptonshire and designed 250,000 sq ft Reynard Technology Park for the development, design, manufacture and team operation.
Co-Founded BAR
Co-Founded British American Racing Formula One Team in partnership with British American Tobacco. Sold shares to Honda Racing F1 in 2005 which became Brawn GP in 2009 and then Mercedes-AMG F1 in 2011
Co-desinged the Panoz Esperante GTR-1.
1997-2000 – Assisted Don Panoz to become a race car constructor by the co-design and manufacture of a front engine, carbon fibre chassis Le Mans challenger – the Panoz Esperante GTR-1. This car drew much acclaim at Le Mans for its unconventional design, which was developed into the first ever hybrid Le Mans contender.
Duke of Edinburgh Award for contribution to Motor Sport
Adrian is given the Duke of Edinburgh Award for contribution to Motor Sport
1998
1999
Elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Adrian is Elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Appointed Visiting Professor in Motor Sport Design
Adrian is appointed visiting professor in Motor Sport Design at Oxford Brookes University
2000
Elected MIA Committee Member & Ambassador for the Education and Skills Initiative
Adrian is Elected MIA Committee Member & Ambassador for the Education and Skills Initiative
Awarded Crompton Lanchester Medal by the IMechE
Adrian is Awarded Crompton Lanchester Medal by the IMechE for outstanding contribution to Mechanical Engineering in Motorsport Awarded The Most Outstanding Contribution To The UK Motorsport Industry by the MIA
2001
2002
Elected Member of Society of Automotive Engineers
Adrian is Elected Member of Society of Automotive Engineers
Founder and Managing Partner of Auto Research Centre LLC
Founder and Managing Partner of Auto Research Centre LLC – a unique wind tunnel and vehicle research facility in Indianapolis serving the major manufacturers and the motor sport industry.
2003
Established the Adrian Reynard Prize
Established the Adrian Reynard Prize for engineering excellence for young engineers
Adrian first to sign up as an Astronaut with Virgin Galactic
Adrian was the first to sign up as an Astronaut with Virgin Galactic
2004
2007
Adrian undertakes Centrifuge training
Adrian undertakes Centrifuge training for Space flight with Virgin Galactic
Designed and built Reynard Inverter sports car with Andre Brown
Reynard Racing Cars Ltd. Designed, developed and manufactured the first Reynard road car – a two-seater sports car for road and track with unique aerodynamic properties. The Inverter sports car with Andre Brown..
2008
Adrian elected Chairman of the Motorsports Industry Advisory Board at Cranfield University
Adrian elected Chairman of the Motorsports Industry Advisory Board at Cranfield University
Brawn GP wins the 2009 F1 Drivers and Constructors Championship
Brawn GP, (which occupies Reynard Park in Brackley, owned by RRCDPF) wins the 2009 F1 Drivers and Constructors Championship – with Jenson Button,
2009
2010
Auto Research Center LLC expands
Auto Research Center LLC expands to 45,000 sq ft and 45 staff and now established as the US authority on reducing fuel consumption on cars and trucks utilizing moving ground scale model testing validated by CFD facility.
Trans-Atlantic crossing
Skippered yacht “Foxy Lady” round the Mediterranean and then trans-Atlantic crossing in 16 days to St Lucia, in the Caribbean.
2011
2012
Adrian wins in self-built Reynard Inverter in the 750 MC Bikesports Championship.
Several outright and class wins whilst Adrian raced self-built Reynard Inverter in the 750 MC Bikesports Championship.
Founded ‘Streamline Solutions’
Founded ‘Streamline Solutions’ – a US based company partnered with software developer ENGYS Ltd to exploit Open Foam CFD software in order to educate car stylists with aerodynamic consequences and reduce product cycle time.
First Reynard car registered on the road in the U.K.
The First Reynard car registered on the road in the U.K.
Investment in 3D additive manufacturing machines
Investment in 3D additive manufacturing machines with KW Special Projects Ltd.
2013
Mercedes AMG Formula 1 comes 2nd in 2013 F1 Constructors Championship
Mercedes AMG Formula 1 Team presently occupies the advanced F1 Team facility at Reynard Park and comes 2nd in 2013 F1 Constructors Championship with Lewis Hamilton.
Consultant to HTT in Canada on a SuperCar project.
Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes wins the World Driver’s Championship
Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes wins the World Driver’s Championship and Mercedes AMG F1 Team the F1 Constructors Championship.
2014
Adrian wins Overall and Class A in the Bikesports Championship
Adrian wins Overall and Class A in the Bikesports Championship racing a Radical SR3
Adrian wins Class A in the Bikesports Championship
Adrian wins Class A in the Bikesports Championship racing a Radical SR3
2015
Consultant to Don Panoz on the DeltaWing project
Consultant to Don Panoz on the DeltaWing project
Nico Rosberg wins the World Driver’s Championship
Nico Rosberg wins the World Driver’s Championship and Mercedes AMG F1 Team the F1 Constructors Championship based at Reynard Park.
2016
HTT SuperCar project
Adrian re-unites with ex Reynard staff at Delta Motorsport Ltd with the HTT SuperCar project.
Adrian continues race wins in his Radical SR3
Adrian continues race wins in his Radical SR3
Cranfield University involvement expands into Mechatronics and Autonomous Vehicles
Cranfield University involvement expands into Mechatronics and Autonomous Vehicles.
https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/courses/taught/autonomous-vehicle-dynamics-and-control
Honorary Doctorate of Science awarded
Adrian is awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Cranfield University
2017
Adrian re-unites racing a Reynard 84FF at Hampton Downs and wins the Final
Adrian re-unites racing a Reynard 84FF at Hampton Downs and wins the Final.
Continues with occasional race wins in appearances in the Radical SR3
Delta Motorsport expands into battery systems
Delta Motorsport expands into battery systems for electric vehicles, control systems, electric hybrid drivetrains and Autonomous vehicle
2017
2018
Cranfield University becomes a centre of excellence
Cranfield University becomes a centre of excellence for advanced centre for Mechatronics in Autonomous Vehicles with substantial UK Government Grant funding.
https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/courses/taught/autonomous-vehicle-dynamics-and-control
Mercedes AMG F1 Team wins the F1 Constructors Championship
Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes wins the World Driver’s Championship and Mercedes AMG F1 Team wins the F1 Constructors Championship – based at Reynard Park.
This is the tenth Drivers World Championship for the company ( 3 x formerly for Sir Jackie Stewart as Tyrell Racing, 1 x Jenson Button as Brawn GP, 1 x Nico Rosberg and 6 x for Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes AMG F1) and 8 Constructors Championships ( 1 x Tyrell, 7 x Mercedes AMG F1)
2019
2020
Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes wins the World Driver’s Championship
Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes wins the World Driver’s Championship and Mercedes AMG F1 Team wins the F1 Constructors Championship – based at Reynard Park.
Adrian returns to FF2000 racing
Adrian returns to FF2000 racing
5th in HSCC Championship in 2021
5th in HSCC Championship in 2022
2021
Adrian selected for the first Virgin Galactic Space Flight due in 2023
Adrian undertakes further training and health assessment in Baltimore and has been selected for the first Virgin Galactic Space Flight due in 2023
Chartered Engineer
Doctor of Engineering
Doctor of Science
Professor Oxford Brookes University (Motorsport Design)
Professor Cranfield University (Motorsport Engineering)
Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Married to Gill
5 children
4 grandchildren
Hobbies and Interests:
Motorsport internationally competing (FIA International license holder)
Electric vehicles
3D printing
World travel – off-road motorcycles (India, South America, Vietnam, South Africa, Laos, Canada, Madagascar, Morocco each one a 2000 km adventure)
Sailing – 2 x Trans-Atlantic crossings in 2011 & 2022 (Commercial YachtMaster)
PPL Aircraft and Helicopter pilot. (1000 hours) R44, JetRanger, Bell 505.
Aircraft, car and motorcycle restoration.
Sustainable energy projects,
Keeping Alpacas, Dog and Cat rescue
World Land Speed record project for motorcycle
Snow skiing, water skiing, Scuba diving, cycling
WW2 Vehicle memorabilia
