Bruce McLaren became one of Formula One’s most celebrated figures after his death

The graves of motorsport pioneer Bruce McLaren and his family have been repeatedly defaced at Waikumete Cemetery in West Auckland, causing significant distress to his daughter Amanda.

Representatives from the Bruce McLaren Trust confirmed the vandalism affected the headstones of the Formula One team founder, his wife Patricia, parents, sister and brother-in-law.

Michael Clark from the Trust revealed Amanda McLaren was “very upset” by the disturbance to her father’s grave, emphasising the personal impact beyond McLaren’s sporting legacy.

The Trust expressed bewilderment at the motivation behind targeting the graves, stating they were “lost for words” about why someone would inflict such damage.

The vandalism involved gold paint being sprayed across the headstones, with toy cars affixed to the graves of Bruce McLaren and his wife Patricia, who passed away in 2016.

The Trust released a statement detailing their dismay: “It is with dismay that we need to inform our followers that the graves of Bruce, Patty, Ruth and Pop at Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland have recently been vandalised.”

“They have been sprayed with gold paint and had toy cars stuck on to them. We are lost for words as to why anyone would do this.”

The perpetrator returned on multiple occasions, even removing protective coverings that had been applied to the monuments.

The grave of motorsport pioneer Bruce McLaren was vandalised

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George Stewart-Dalzell from Grave Guardians discovered the damage whilst visiting the cemetery and was “devastated” by what she encountered.

She told the Telegraph: “Before we even got there, you could just see all of this gold paint all over the stones. I felt like I wanted to cry, I was just devastated.”

She theorised the culprit might have been attempting amateur restoration work, noting approximately 14 other monuments had received similar treatment with gel bleach and paint.

Stewart-Dalzell said: “Someone has obviously decided that the graves are just in a sad state and that they know what they’re doing,” suggesting the person believed they were helping.

McLaren established his infamous racing team in England in 1963

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McLaren established his infamous racing team in England in 1963, achieving their maiden grand prix victory in Belgium five years later before accumulating 10 constructors’ and 12 drivers’ championships.

The Auckland-born racing driver was killed in a crash in 1970, becoming one of Formula One’s most celebrated figures.

Michael Clark from the Trust raised concerns about security measures at the cemetery whilst confirming plans to compensate the volunteers despite their refusal of payment.

He told the publication: “These wonderful people that restore the graves refuse to take anything. So we’re going to defy that,” praising their unpaid efforts in repairing the damaged monuments.