UK racecar company now producing ventilators

McLaren Automotive, usually know for performance racecars, has begun working on the production of ventilators as a part of the response to the new coronavirus pandemic in the U.K.

McLaren is one of many companies which have changed over operation as a part of the government's Ventilator Challenge initiative.

At the factory in Woking, workers have been using access to parts and technical expertise to assemble ventilators and testing kits to be supplied to hospitals across the country.

"Massively important for me, being able to volunteer and actually do something that makes a difference. It's a big motivational factor," said Richard Wilcox, a McLaren engineer.

The cabinet office confirmed last week that the first new ventilator design from the Ventilator Challenge initiative had received regulatory approval, and that the first batch of devices had already been sent to hospitals.

The U.K. government has faced criticism for not having enough ventilators at the start of the new coronavirus crisis, and hopes that schemes like Ventilator Challenge will help address the shortfall.

So far the U.K. has had 130,172 infections of the new coronavirus, with 17,378 deaths.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.