This time in 2011, the Middle East will see the return of one of the most evocative names in motoring history. Yes, McLaren is setting up base in the region – and you can bet your horses this part of the world will be a key player in the company’s customer base.

You can read about the company’s sports car plans in News Section "McLaren's Back" , but here you can meet the man who’s at the helm of McLaren Automotive’s Middle East operation – Ian Gorsuch, a man so busy that evo-ME almost couldn’t get hold of him.

So what’s he up to? Well, Gorsuch is busy setting up a team of dealers across the region, and speaking to customers as they express interest in reserving a car. ‘Our team will be a small one,’ says Gorsuch. ‘It is extremely important for us to work closely with our new dealer partners to ensure that customers receive the best possible service from the moment they walk in.’ He also says that the fundamentals of the company will be based on quality, not quantity – something that’ll be in the ethos of McLaren’s cars, as it always was in the famous F1.

With that, Gorsuch is adamant there’s still room in the market for another sports car. ‘Our aim is not to dominate the market - our volumes will be quite conservative in order to allow us to focus on each and every customer. We believe we will lead the market by introducing cutting-edge technology and a leader in terms of handling and performance. The Middle East is full of people who appreciate the very best in automotive technology and design - areas that are our key strengths.’ Although he wouldn’t say whether McLaren plans to test their cars in the region, he says the new ‘P11’ is ‘being designed to meet the highest standards required for the climate here.’ After serving as an army officer and living in Brazil, Australia, Korea and Hong Kong, Gorsuch became responsible for running a sales team at the Champagne house of Krug in the UK. He then joined Bentley in 1998 and later became its Middle East Regional Director. Lately, he was also the Vice President of the InterContinental Hotels Group in Dubai and only joined McLaren this year.

So what about Gorsuch himself? Does he like cars as much as the customers he’s talking t  o? ‘My father was a car nut who raced vintage Alfas from the 1920s, so I have naturally been drawn to them since I was a little boy,’ he says. ‘That’s why I feel immensely lucky and excited to be involved with what we are now creating.’

And what does he drive? ‘A convertible 911. Because it’s red, the family call it dad’s mid-life crisis car. But that doesn’t stop me from loving it.’ He won’t be able to keep it for too long, though – the second car McLaren will launch after the ‘P11’ will be an entry level model – a rival to the Porsche 911.