European motoring legends behind Mercedes, BMW and McLaren to enter Hall of Fame

The French designer behind some of Europe’s most iconic cars and the British mastermind who transformed McLaren are among five motoring pioneers being honoured alongside the inventor of life-saving crash barriers

The French designer behind some of Mercedes-Benz and BMW’s most famous cars is being inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame alongside British Formula One legend Sir Ron Dennis and an American racing driver whose invention has helped save lives on the roads.

Paul Bracq, the Frenchman responsible for the Mercedes-Benz ‘Pagoda’ SL and BMW Turbo concept, is among five motoring pioneers selected for the prestigious honour.

He will be joined by British-born Dennis, who transformed McLaren into a Formula One powerhouse, and American John Fitch, who invented energy-absorbing roadside crash barriers after witnessing the devastating 1955 Le Mans disaster.

Also honoured are Americans Les Kelley, whose used-car pricing guides became the Kelley Blue Book, and Rodney O’Neal, the former chief executive who steered automotive supplier Delphi out of bankruptcy protection.

The five inductees, announced yesterday at the Automobilwoche Kongress in Berlin, will formally enter the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit on 23 September 2027.

Founded in 1939, the Automotive Hall of Fame has inducted more than 300 individuals whose work has shaped the global motor industry.

Sarah Cook, its president, said: “From design and motorsport to business transformation, vehicle valuation and safety, each of these individuals changed an important part of our industry.”

Bracq, one of France’s most influential automotive designers, helped shape generations of European cars during a career spanning Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Peugeot.

His work included the elegant Mercedes-Benz W113 ‘Pagoda’ SL, the futuristic BMW Turbo concept and contributions to BMW’s early 3, 5, 6 and 7 Series models. He later spent more than two decades at French manufacturer Peugeot, working on interiors for models including the popular 205.

Dennis, meanwhile, became one of Britain’s most successful motorsport executives after taking control of McLaren in the early 1980s.

Under his leadership, the team secured 158 Grand Prix victories and 17 World Championships, while the McLaren name became synonymous with British engineering excellence and high-performance sports cars.

Reacting to his induction, Dennis said: “Nothing has given me more satisfaction in my motorsport career than building a technology group that competed successfully at the highest levels, produced some of the world’s best high-performance sports cars and advanced electronics, and pioneered advanced technologies.”

American racing driver Fitch made his name competing internationally, including for Mercedes-Benz, before devoting much of his later career to improving road safety.

His Fitch Inertial Barrier, which uses energy-absorbing containers to protect motorists from dangerous fixed obstacles, became an important roadside safety innovation.

Fellow American Kelley began selling used cars in Los Angeles in 1918 and developed vehicle pricing lists that evolved into Kelley Blue Book in 1926, creating a trusted reference for car buyers, sellers and dealers.

O’Neal, also American, is being recognised for leading Delphi through a major restructuring and helping establish the foundations of the automotive technology business that later became Aptiv.

He said: “This recognition means far more than a personal achievement. I believe it reflects a lifetime dedicated to innovation, teamwork and accomplishment.”

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_{Main image: Europe’s motoring legends Paul Bracq (far left), the French designer behind iconic Mercedes-Benz and BMW models, and Britain’s Sir Ron Dennis (second left), who transformed McLaren into a Formula One powerhouse, are among five pioneers entering the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2027. They are joined by American automotive executive Rodney O’Neal, road safety innovator John Fitch and Kelley Blue Book founder Les Kelley. The induction ceremony takes place in Detroit on 23 September 2027. Credit: Automotive Hall of Fame}