Ilmor make engines for the McLaren West Mercedes previously driven in Formula One by Britain’s David Coulthard. They have also enjoyed success in supplying engines for several American racing teams. Ilmor was founded by Mario llien and paul morgan in 1983. Both were former employees of the racing engine manufacturer, Cosworth, based in Northampton. Their decision to branch out on their own was helped by the relatively low barriers to entry in the motor sport industry. ilien and morgan approached team owner roger Penske who negotiated a financial package from general motors of the US. When they left Cosworth, the pair were anxious to retain many of their former contacts in “motor sport valley’ in Oxfordshire/ Northamptonshire and therefore chode to locate their new nosiness in Brixworth not far from Northampton. Their own mirrored the formation of cosworth, which was founded in 1958 by two Lotus employees, Mike costin and keith duckworth. They began by tuning and modifying existing mass-produced engines and eventually, with backing from ford, built a formula one engine, the Cosworth DFV, which won 155 grand between 1967 and 1983.