adrian reynard

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.

www.arcindy.com

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.

www.delta-motorsport.com

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

https://silverstone-park.com/media/latest-news/delta-motorsports-ev-know-helps-create-amazing-supercar/

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