MCLAREN SWISS OWNERS

MCLAREN SWISS OWNERS CELEBRATES ITS 5TH ANNIVERSARY
WHAT IF WE MADE A MAGAZINE
ABOUT BRUCE MCLAREN?

The idea came from Bruno Josserand. Those who know him are aware that once this serial entrepreneur has an idea in mind, it’s never easy to get him to let it go. Determination is an integral part of his character. It was with this same energy that he created several restaurants in Geneva and around the world—such as Le Beef, Charlotte Bistrot, and many others—alongside fellow enthusiast Antoine Cau and his other partner, Lionel Christen. As an entrepreneur and restaurateur, Bruno weathered the Covid crisis without ever letting up. With his foot on the gas, he kept his establishments and various projects running. So naturally, founding a car club and organizing events for a brand he’s fallen head over heels in love with seemed like the logical next step. For him, it’s both a pleasure… and a field he’s mastered

Having driven cars from numerous brands, Bruno decided one day to test drive a McLaren. And that’s when everything changed. “Becoming one with the machine with surgical precision, while experiencing a level of pleasure in every turn that I had never felt before…”

The revelation was immediate: a carbon-fiber chassis, hydraulic steering, pure driving pleasure. He literally fell in love with the brand, to the point of declaring that from then on, he would drive nothing but McLarens. “You have to test-drive these cars to understand just how far the development and engineering have been pushed to elevate the driving experience.”

Very quickly, the car becomes more than just a passion. It becomes a bond—a meeting place for enthusiasts of fine automobiles.

“MERGING WITH THE MACHINE WITH SURGICAL PRECISION WHILE DELIVERING A LEVEL OF DRIVING PLEASURE IN EVERY CORNER THAT HAS NEVER BEEN EXPERIENCED BEFORE…”

THE MEETING WITH MCLAREN

Like many enthusiasts, Bruno observes, compares, and tests. Until the day he discovers McLaren. That moment marks a turning point. Everything is different. More direct. More pure. It’s not just about performance or numbers, but about the sensations. The car communicates, reacts without filters. The experience is immediate and profound. From that point on, the choice is clear: he wants no other. McLaren becomes the obvious choice. But very quickly, a question arises: why live this passion alone?

FROM IDEA TO PROJECT

In 2021, Bruno launched McLaren Swiss Owners. Not just another club, but a community built from the ground up around simple, core values: bringing McLaren owners together, of course, but above all uniting them through friendship, camaraderie, passion, and the joy of gathering at various events. The goal is clear: to create a setting where people come together for the simple pleasure of being together, without competition, without pressure, and without pretension. The car becomes a reason to meet, not a tool for comparison. He therefore created an official McLaren club with the help of the brand and dealerships. “I really wanted all the key players—including the brand and the dealerships—to get involved in this venture so we could build a connection with this future community.”

The club quickly took shape. The members share the same vision: to enjoy their cars, understand them, and drive them on both public roads and racetracks, always in a respectful and open-minded spirit. Today, the club has nearly 90 members.

“BUT VERY SOON, A QUESTION ARISES: WHY LIVE THIS PASSION ALONE?”

MUCH MORE THAN JUST A CLUB

McLaren Swiss Owners is not limited to one-off outings. The association is part of a broader initiative aimed at promoting and sharing the culture of motorsports in all its forms. In this spirit, the club collaborated with the École Hôtelière de Lausanne on an event to introduce the brand to EHL students, which was a great success.

These scenic drives and tours are designed to be truly immersive experiences. The routes are carefully selected, prioritizing the quality of the roads, the scenery, the hotels, and cultural stops. The pace is deliberately relaxed, giving everyone time to enjoy both the driving and the camaraderie, much like the Corsica Tour—a week-long rally that showcases the beauty of this absolutely magnificent island and its uniquely warm hospitality.

THE CIRCUIT, WITHOUT THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT

The track is also part of the club’s and McLaren’s DNA. Track days are organized regularly, in a safe and supervised environment. Here again, the approach is clear: no rankings, no mandatory stopwatch, no rivalry—just the goal of pushing one’s own limits, which, as everyone will see, lie well below the capabilities of our McLarens. These outings are encouraged by Bruno Josserand, who effortlessly motivates his team to head out to Europe’s most beautiful circuits and, once again, have fun regardless of skill level.

A COMMUNITY ABOVE ALL ELSE

Beyond the cars, McLaren Swiss Owners is first and foremost a community. The club is evolving gradually, without seeking growth at any cost. The goal remains to preserve the balance, spirit, and camaraderie that were central to its founding. “My goal is to bring together McLaren owners from all over Switzerland so they can share their passion and connect through events designed to them. McLaren’s reputation in Switzerland is “This has also been driven by dealers who have clearly understood that fostering a sense of belonging and brand loyalty clearly depends on interaction, sharing, and connection.”

This deliberate choice helps maintain a healthy dynamic, where everyone naturally finds their place. Events evolve, projects multiply, but the core remains the same. “Members choose the events they want to participate in throughout the year; there are about fifteen events, starting with ice driving in Lapland in January, followed by track days, rallies, and unique events like Goodwood, etc.”

McLaren Swiss Owners is more than just a collection of exceptional cars. It’s a shared vision of automotive passion: living it to the fullest, without any sense of competition, in a warm and respectful environment centered around a brand that offers so much in terms of driving pleasure and excitement. So, happy anniversary… and see you at the 10-year celebration?