
Former McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh was a surprise appointment as the new CEO of Ben Ainslie Racing.

Whitmarsh spent 25 years with the British Formula One team. He was CEO from 2004 to 2013 and team principal from 2009 to 2013. He was appointed CEO of Ben Ainslie Racing in March 2015.

When Ben Ainslie approached him about the possibility of heading up his America's Cup team Whitmarsh jumped at the chance

An aerial view of the $23 million headquarters being built in Portsmouth, England to house the British team in the build-up to the 2017 event.

Whitmarsh is the first to admit he is not much of a sailor having only infrequently made excursions on water.

But he is confident that the team have the sailors, personnel finance and backers to aspire to win the America's Cup for the first time in Britain's history.