Patty McLaren-Brickett with her daughter Amanda and Bruce McLaren's first race car in the lobby of New Zealand House in London in 2015.

Formula One driver Bruce McLaren's widow, Patty McLaren-Brickett, has passed away in England.

The former Timaru woman was an integral part of the early days in the founding of the McLaren team.

McLaren chief executive Ron Dennis has expressed sympathy to her family and friends.

SUPPLIED Wally Willmott (left) with Bruce McLaren and Patty McLaren in the early days.

"Patty was a wonderful woman, and, over the 46 years that have elapsed since Bruce's death in a testing accident at Goodwood in the summer of 1970, she has always remained close to the company that bears her husband's name.

"She was especially resolute in the period immediately after Bruce's accident, inspiring 'my boys', as she used to refer to the men who made up the grief-stricken team, not only to keep McLaren alive but also to make it successful.

"We have therefore lost not only a great lady but also a direct link to our company's origins.

"On behalf of all 3000 of us at McLaren, I therefore pay tribute to Patty and offer our heartfelt condolences to her family and many friends."

READ MORE: Timaru's Team McLaren

When Bruce McLaren decided to set up his own racing company 50 years ago, he found himself surrounded by Timaru people.

The original McLaren "family" included Patty Broad, publicist Eoin Young, and mechanic Wally Willmott.

Young penned McLaren's autobiography and remembered how the young couple met.

"I asked Bruce if he wanted to join us lads at the dance hall on Caroline Bay and he came away at midnight infatuated with this gorgeous local blonde, Pat Broad.

"The next day he called me, asking for Pat's phone number and it all started from there."

McLaren's sister was living in Timaru at the time.

After McLaren won the Driver to Europe, Patty followed him to the United Kingdom.

They were married in Patty's home town of Christchurch in 1961 and their daughter, Amanda, was born in 1965.

Willmott remembers McLaren instantly falling for Patty, who worked for a chemist in Stafford St.

"It was a real love story."

Far from being a mere spectator to Bruce's her husband's early career she could frequently be found at the race track wall keeping a record of lap times or sitting beside him filming laps of various circuits for later study.

Willmott said she became an expert with a stop watch officials would often come to confirm their times with her.

"She could also keep a watch on the other drivers so w knew what times the others were doing."

Willmott said later Patty became a key member of the 'Doug House Club', which was charity founded by the Formula One drivers and run by their wives.

"They ran fetes and other charity events, Patty and Betty Hill became the old guard the new wives came to for advice."

Willmott said Patty was fun character who liked a wine, and could hold a conversation with anyone.

"She wasn't so involved later as she took motherhood seriously."

Willmott said they became close again over the past few years as he returned annually to England for the Goodwood Revival meetings.

After Bruce died, Patty took his place on the Board of Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Limited and was closely involved with the team throughout the 1970s.