THE UNIVERSITY of Wales Trinity Saint David has welcomed McLaren Applied chairman Nick Fry to the University’s SA1 campus to provide valuable insights into the Formula 1 industry to motorsport students.
In his talk, Nick, a graduate of the University of Wales, gave students real-world perspectives, lessons, and inspiration, helping them to understand the complexities and opportunities within Formula 1. He was also given a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities in the university’s IQ building.
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is ranked 1st in Wales for Mechanical Engineering (including Automotive, Motorcycle and Motorsport Engineering) in the Guardian University Guide 2024.
Drawing on his experiences, Nick discussed the resilience needed to handle the many pressures encountered in the motorsports industry and the drive and determination needed to succeed at the highest level.
Addressing the students he said: “To progress you need to push beyond the areas of the ‘known’ to where you’ve really got the performance. Surround yourself with the best people, the best team and have clear objectives and effective communication.
“It’s also about understanding that you don’t win or lose – you win, or you learn. The most important thing is what did we learn from it and what are we going to do next time which avoids that happening again. And it’s also got to be fun as it can and does become your life.”
Nick joined McLaren Applied as Non-Executive Chairman in September 2021. As Chairman, Nick is tasked with leading McLaren’s continued growth in key markets, including motorsport, automotive, and connected intelligence.
Alongside his role at McLaren Applied Nick was the founder of Stonehaven Partners which provides commercial advice and consulting services to a variety of automotive and high-performance sectors.
Prior to joining McLaren, Nick was Chief Executive Officer for the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and was instrumental in the sale of the team to Daimler and the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund.
He has also held CEO roles at Brawn GP which won the F1 Drivers and Constructors World Championship, the Honda Racing F1 Team, and British American Racing. Prior to F1, Nick was CEO of the Subaru World Rally Team and won the World Rally Championship on two occasions.
Nick began his career at Ford where he held numerous senior operational roles in Product Development, Marketing and Manufacturing as well as becoming Managing Director at Aston Martin where he was responsible for the development of the Aston Martin DB7, a model which transformed the fortunes of the company.
Dr Kerry Tudor, Assistant Academic Director (Engineering) said: “Nick Fry’s engaging lecture with our undergraduate Motorsport Engineering students brought a valuable mix of wisdom and experience, offering practical insights that will inspire and guide them on their journey in the dynamic field of motorsport. We are very grateful to Nick for his visit and support for our Professional Development series. After the success of the recent documentary, to hear his personal recounting of the Brawn GP story was truly fascinating.”
