UK Motor Sport Valley

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MOTORSPORT IN THE UK AN INDUSTRY WITH A WINNING FORMULA

Transcript of UK Motor Sport Valley

Page 1: UK Motor Sport Valley

MOTORSPORT IN THE UK AN INdUSTRy wITH A wINNINg fORMUlA

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U. K.

SCOTLAND

ENGLAND

WALES

FRANCE

N.IRELAND

BELGIUM

Motorsport is in many ways a showcase sector for the UK, exemplifying its strengths in R&D, advanced materials and engineering and sophisticated services.

It is constantly developing new components, products and services for worldwide applications, with spin-offs into the wider automotive industry and other related sectors such as aerospace.

The key strengths of the UK motorsport industry include a highly educated and professional workforce,

supported by a robust and acclaimed academic network; unsurpassed advanced engineering expertise; a reputation for innovation and new product development through powerful and active R&D programmes; and a progressive and attractive business environment.

The UK has a long track record of success in worldwide motor racing and a true passion for the sport. Above all, the UK motorsport industry is renowned for its “innovate to win” mentality, which sets it apart from the field.

The UK motorsport industry is a global leader. The country’s dominant role in both managing and serving the F1 and other international racing series has led to a wealth of world-class design, precision and high-performance engineering companies, as well as a comprehensive range of leading service firms in areas such as event management, marketing, PR and sponsorship.

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It boasts a unique cluster of high-performance engineering companies, acting as a global centre for the production of performance cars, chassis, engines, brakes, suspension and transmission systems, telemetry and a wide range of other world-class products, services and facilities.

Flexibility in the production of leading-edge quality products is one of Motorsport Valley’s many selling points. Its extremely diverse supply chain incorporates dynamic SMEs and major industry leaders.

The cluster is therefore renowned for its ability to react quickly to specific industry requirements –

perfect for clients that need complex precision components incorporating the latest technology to be designed, prototyped and manufactured on a fast-track basis.

Motorsport Valley accounts for a major proportion of the world motorsport industry market and is home to some of motor racing’s biggest names. These include high-profile F1 and F3 teams, globally active component manufacturers, an array of design and engineering experts, and several racing team operators.

London is also a key part of the UK motorsport cluster. The capital is home to the rights holders and

organisers of F1 and the World Rally Championship, with both being run by the FIA from an office at Silverstone, together with the many specialised legal and insurance companies that are vital to global motorsport.

For all these reasons, and many more besides, the UK is increasingly providing innovative design, engineering and service solutions in markets worldwide, as well as attracting further inward investment in an ever-more competitive industry.

MOTORSPORT VALLEYMotorsport Valley, based largely in southern and central England, is the hub of the UK industry.

“ The UK motorsport industry contributes over £5 billion per annum to the UK economy, 50 per cent of which is accounted for by exports.The industry also supports around 40,000 jobs, including 25,000 skilled engineers.”

CONTENTS

A SHOWCASE SECTOR 1AHEAD OF THE GAME 7ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE 15 DEVELOPING TALENT 20

COMMERCIAL SERVICES 25GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS 29GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AND CONTACTS 31

Manufacturers Teams/team operators Academia/R&D institutions Associations/Governing bodies Venues

Fernando Alsonso (ESP) Renault R26. Formula One World Championship, 2006. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com Cover page: Over 80 per cent of the Subaru World Rally Car is manufactured by Prodrive in Banbury including engine,

roll cage, bodyshell and electrical system as well as the semi-automatic transmission illustrated. Courtesy Prodrive. Darren Manning (GBR) A1 Team Great Britain. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

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CASE STUdy: XTRAC

From F1 to NASCAR, many of the world’s premier motorsport teams rely on Xtrac.

Based in Berkshire, the company provides high-performance transmission systems, drive shaft assemblies, engine gears, rack-and-pinion assemblies, differentials and remote gear-change systems.

Managing director Peter Digby, a former Williams GP production manager, says: “To maintain our position as the leading supplier of high-performance transmissions, we operate a continuous improvement policy. This promotes investment in the most talented people, the world’s most advanced CAE systems and state-of-the-art machine tools.

“Our approach of complete confidentiality, focus and attention to detail, combined with a forward-thinking ‘can-do’ philosophy, consistently delivers on-time solutions to the highest-possible standards.”

Proof of this is Xtrac’s extraordinary track record. The company has played a major part in 24 F1 titles, 20 Champ Car titles, 14 Indy 500 victories, 20 touring car championships, 22 WRC titles, eight Le Mans/Daytona 24-hour victories and 13 Dakar Rally wins. Small wonder then that Xtrac is regarded as one of UK motorsport’s greatest success stories.

www.xtrac.com

Williams has its own wind tunnel, staffed by a team of engineers who spend some 8,000 man hours a season optimising aerodynamic improvements, as well as a dynamic drawing office, where 40 engineers design and engineer everything from chassis dynamics, composites and materials to gearbox, differential and even software engineering.

This highly impressive infrastructure means that Williams F1 can produce some 90 per cent of the racecar, with the engines from Toyota from 2007.

The company has also invested in a high-spec conference centre that caters for up to 200 people and a number of other developments to redirect income streams into such fields as racetrack open days, F1 experience simulators and a host of other motorsport-related entertainments.

Today, Williams F1 can be seen as a role model in terms of sponsorship and strategic partnerships, having struck some world-beating deals with major corporations such as Accenture, Royal Bank of Scotland, Allianz and FedEx, brands that are new to F1 and are sure to encourage further global names to invest in motorsport. In short, Williams F1 is a commercial and sporting trailblazer which is a major asset to the UK motorsport industry.

www.williamsf1.com

CASE STUdy: wIllIAMS f1

Williams F1’s operation at Grove, near Wantage, is a high-tech racing hub in which latest-generation F1 cars are designed, developed and manufactured.

Nico Roseberg learning the track before his debut British Grand Prix, 2006. Courtesy Williams F1.

Helical Gear Cluster Assembly. Courtesy Xtrac.

The Williams F1 wind tunnel 2, capable of running a 100% model of the car. Courtesy Williams F1.

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CASE STUdy: PI RESEARCH

Pi Research’s advanced electronics and software products are used around the world in all major motor racing categories to improve the performance of racecars and drivers to produce champions at every level of the sport.

The Cambridgeshire company’s pioneering data analyis and control-system technologies are widely accepted as the motorsport industry standard, found as they are in racecars (including Red Bull F1 cars), pit garages, wind tunnels, assembly lines and R&D facilities across the globe.

Their reputation is such that the phrase ‘Pi logger’ has become the generic term for blackbox, data-logging analysis.

A big name in motorsport, the company has also successfully spread its expertise to many other knowledge-based sectors.

As well as its UK facilities, Pi Research also boasts state-of-the-art offices and R&D operations in Indianapolis and Charlotte in the US, and agents in Japan, Italy, Brazil and Denmark. A true example of a UK firm “born global” in Motorsport Valley.

www.piresearch.com

Coventry-based Visioneering supplied the engineering capability to design and build the innovative, nine-metre long streamlined car, which reached a speed of 350mph over the course at Bonneville Flats in Utah, USA.

Engine and gearbox development was undertaken by Ricardo, one of the UK’s largest motorsport engineering consultancies, which undertakes projects for many of the world’s leading performance car manufacturers, including the DB9 for Aston Martin and the new 250mph Bugatti Veyron.

Visioneering has also been chosen to provide engineering services to Project Kimber, which plans to resurrect the famous AC sports car range for launch into the European market during 2007.

www.visuk.co.uk www.ricardo.com

CASE STUdy: VISIONEERINg/RICARdO

The record-breaking JCB Dieselmax attributed its smashing of the world diesel-powered speed record in 2006 to the engineering expertise of two leading Motorsport Valley companies.

CASE STUdy: BERlIN PROJECT lIMITEd (BPl)

Cheltenham company BPL recently signed a rolling 12-month contract with Japan’s Honda F1 to provide logistics services for its F1 race and test team.

The firm will supply LGV C+ E drivers for Honda’s Test Team vehicles. In addition, it has won a major contract in the US to transport carbon fibre, resins and temperature-sensitive materials used in the manufacture of motor racing cars. Orders will be worth up to £400,000.

BPL, which regularly uses UK Trade & Investment services as part of an ongoing export strategy, is thrilled with its wins. Managing director Steve White says: “The size of our expected business in the US is even bigger that we expected, so we’re absolutely delighted.

“Similarly, whilst we have worked with Honda in the past, this is the first time we’ve signed a 12-month contract with them, which is great news.”

www.berlinproject.co.uk

JCB Dieselmax breaks the world land speed record for a diesel-powered vehicle on the Utah salt flats. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

Motorsport Academy programmes are establishing training standards and sector-specific qualifications.

Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

Ricardo engineers develop the two JCB444-LSR engines of the Dieselmax vehicle. Courtesy Ricardo.

Honda F1 racing team. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

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From the early days of F1, a large proportion of the dramatic technical innovations that have taken motor racing by storm originated in the UK.These include the rear-engined racecar configurations of the 1950s, and major aerodynamic developments such as aerofoils, under-body profiles and carbon-fibre chassis.

Today, the UK motorsport industry is widely regarded around the world as a technological trailblazer, whose steady flow of fresh ideas continually pushes the boundaries of global motor racing. It is part of a wider UK infrastructure that is at the leading edge of key technologies for the future, including low-carbon vehicles, intelligent transport systems and new materials.

The UK motorsport industry is built firmly on a culture of innovation. Leading-edge R&D, investments in new technologies and a voracious appetite to try out new ideas are commonplace traits in the companies that operate within Motorsport Valley and other key locations.

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The revolutionary McLaren MP4/1, with motorsport’s first composite chassis. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

“ The UK motorsport industry stands to benefit considerably by adopting EEMS concepts and taking a leading global role.”

The concept of EEMS has been growing since 2001 and quickly built support. The ACO (organisers of Le Mans) changed their regulations to allow diesel and bioethanol-fuelled cars to compete in 2003.

On June 18 2006, a diesel-powered Audi R10 won the Le Mans 24-hour race with an engine designed by Ulrich Baretzky, the head of engine technology at Audi Sport.

He had forecast a diesel victory at Le Mans at a ‘Clean Racing’ seminar in 2003, but it was the highly innovative engineering and design skills of several UK motorsport companies that turned his prediction into reality. Xtrac, for example, designed a gearbox to suit the Baretzky-designed engine, which performed perfectly using the Shell V-Power diesel fuel, newly introduced by Shell Racing Solutions, from its technology facilities in Cheshire.

Bioethanol, LPG and diesel fuels have now been introduced into several motor racing arenas, while new lightweight composite materials have been incorporated in the manufacture of chassis, suspension components, braking systems, engine and transmissions to give more efficient use of fuel and improve performance at the same time. This demonstration of the use of alternative fuels and engine techniques can be expected to deliver part of the future transport solution.

Crompton Technology Group (CTG) provides an excellent example of how brilliant innovations soon become the norm. Their carbon-fibre filament lightweight propshafts were revolutionary in 2000, but by mid-2005 were essential for racecars worldwide. This success has helped CTG to apply its technology to the energy and aerospace industries.

www.eemsonline.co.uk

ENERGY EFFICIENT MOTORSPORT (EEMS)

The UK is a pioneer in greener, environmentally sensitive racing, through such initiatives as EEMS and the adoption of bioethanol, diesel and LPG fuels.

The Oaktec Insight has three factors that make it unique in the world of special-stage rallying. Firstly, it uses an electrical hybrid system to capture energy that would be wasted during braking and retardation, and re-uses it to help accelerate the car by providing current to an electric assist motor. Secondly, it has been developed to use renewable E85 bio-ethanol fuel in place of conventional unleaded petrol. This fuel gives strong power combined with ultra-low emissions. The third factor that makes this car highly unusual in motorsport is that its hybrid power system drives through a continually variable automatic transmission, which gives the car better performance and driveability.

Driver and project engineer Paul Andrews explains: “This project would have less significance if we cheated with the emissions and

vehicle efficiency. It would be very easy to get more horsepower from the lightweight three cylinder Insight engine by running richer mixtures at higher revs and removing the catalytic converters, but this would destroy the carbon dioxide emissions record of the car, which is currently the lowest recorded by a UK market production car at 85g/km. We believe our car to be even below this figure when using the bio-ethanol fuel blend and we will be doing tests to prove this soon.”

In 2007, Oaktec and technical partners IARC (International Automotive Research Centre) and Warwick University will work on gaining further performance through more effective recycling of wasted energy and further unlocking the performance potential of renewable fuels.

CASE STUdy: OAKTEC

The EEMS-supported Oaktec Honda insight hybrid rally car, considered to be the first ultra-low emission rally car in Europe, won Class A of the fiercely contested 2006 Formula 1000 rally championship at the first attempt.

The Insight was built, developed and crewed by Oaktec partners Paul Andrews and Bill Meeson.

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UK motorsport boasts a first-class R&D infrastructure, incorporating full-size wind tunnels, circuits and extensive testing venues, such as those on offer at Millbrook in Bedfordshire and Warwickshire-based MIRA. In addition, it enjoys ever-closer links with leading UK universities and colleges, such as Cranfield, Brunel and Oxford Brookes, which are continually striving to develop and invest in educational and research programmes for the motorsport industry. Consequently, there is a constant flow of new blood into the industry, which serves to enhance UK motorsport’s know-how and maintain its competitiveness in an ever-more demanding worldwide arena.

UK-based companies are also able to take advantage of the DTI’s Technology Programme, which consists of the Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) and collaborative R&D programmes. KTNs encourage the flow of knowledge, people and experience between industry and the science base, with the aim of delivering improved industrial performance. Examples include the Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technology KTN, which was set up and run by Cenex; SMMT Foresight Vehicle; Fuel Cells Today and Fuel Cells UK.

There is also the Intelligent Transport Systems KTN, set up by innovITS, a centre of excellence which strives to seek out inventive telematics technology.

Collaborative R&D schemes are supported with funding from the Technology Programme to generate wealth for the UK economy. Since this programme was launched in February 2004, more than 500 projects have been supported, with a value in excess of £750 million.

Moreover, significant tax breaks are enhancing the technological hothouse that is UK motorsport. Since the end of 2005, UK-based motorsport companies have been the beneficiaries of a new tax-credit scheme which allows tax credits to be set against R&D costs. Rebates can be as much as up to 37.5 per cent of the initial R&D spend.

The advantages are being seen at all levels; from F1 companies such as Renault, Williams and Red Bull to the myriad smaller, independent, technology-driven engineering firms that survive on innovation and invention and for whom R&D is the lifeblood.

R&D INVESTMENTUK motorsport’s unwavering commitment to research and development is a key reason for its excellence in innovation. Over 30 per cent of the industry’s engineering sales are reinvested in continuous R&D programmes and facilities, compared to a wider engineering average of just two per cent. The result is a technologically advanced environment full of fresh, market-orientated ideas.

The new Motorsport Academy, hard at work training the next generation of motorsport engineers.

Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

Why is the UK the best place to invest in high-performance engineering R&D?

• Motorsport Valley is the global home of motorsport and high- performance engineering and is the location for the most cost-effective R&D

• Leading-edge strengths and active knowledge transfer networks in key future technologies

• Easy access to world-renowned universities dedicated to securing commercial partnerships to support the exploitation of R&D

• DTI Technology Programme

• Supportive R&D tax credit scheme

• Support available from UK Trade & Investment and partner organisations, which can help you find the right partner or supplier for your company, or the best location for your own operation

Thanks to its large testing track, full support facilities and the company’s 100 years of knowledge-based expertise, MIRA is renowned for delivering the best engineering solutions. Recent successes have included its technical partnership with independent operators Team Halfords. Using MIRA’s full-scale wind tunnels, their Honda Integras were improved to such an extent that Team Halfords won the 2005 and 2006 British Touring Car Championship in both the driver and team categories.

MIRA also carried out an innovative passive safety programme in Europe and the US for the Mercedes McLaren SLR, as well as many key design and technical developments for major OEMs and Tier 1s in the wider automotive industry and related sectors.

www.mira.co.uk

CASE STUdy: MIRA

Warwickshire-based MIRA is at the forefront of motorsport R&D, helping clients worldwide to design and develop innovative products, be they faster, greener, cleaner, safer, cheaper or more reliable.

Gareth Howell (GBR) Team Halfords celebrates winning race 1. British Touring Car Championship, Rd 10, Silverstone, England 14th -15th Oct 2006.

Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

MIRA provides a range of world-class testing and analysis services. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

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The company has established an impressive reputation for delivering Integrated Powertrain Solutions (IPS) for a wide range of motorsport applications. Today, its engines power cars participating in numerous championships, including Speed GT and the World Touring Car Championship.

MAHLE employs some 1,000 highly skilled people at extensive modern facilities in the UK and the US. An in-house foundry making lightweight, precision aluminium castings and production lines for machining and engine assembly are just part of the company’s continuing investment in infrastructure.

It constantly researches potential future technologies, so that each innovative development is market-ready in the quickest possible time.

Although highly focused on the development of gasoline technologies and high-performance and high-tech diagnostics systems, MAHLE also works with fuels such as diesel, hydrogen, natural gas, alcohols and bio-fuels.

www.mahle-powertrain.com

James Thompson (GBR) seat on the grid. British Touring Car Championship. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

CASE STUdy: MAHlE POwERTRAIN

From components to complete powertrain assemblies, prototypes or production, race-engine solutions engineered by MAHLE Powertrain (formerly Cosworth Technology) offer customers worldwide the very latest high-tech innovations.

Recognising the importance of synergies between motorsport and aerospace, in 2004 the MIA launched its “Motorsport2Aerospace” (M2A) technology transfer programme at the Farnborough International Air Show. Aiming to develop cross-pollination of innovations and technologies between the two complementary sectors, M2A has already enjoyed considerable success.

Lola Cars, based in Cambridgeshire, is a key example, having worked on the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in conjunction with Meggit Defence Systems. Moreover, Surrey firm DPS Composites, one of

the trailblazers of carbon fibre in motorsport, counts British Airways and Qantas amongst its customers, while Crompton Technology Group (CTG), renowned for its carbon-fibre filament lightweight propshafts, has delivered synergetic applications in both the energy and aerospace industries.

“The biggest shock that aerospace people experience when first talking to the motorsport fraternity is how fast we can turn round ideas,” says Prodrive’s Ben Sayer. “They cannot believe how quickly we can take a brief and produce a finished article.”

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERThanks to its innovative nature, UK motorsport’s capabilities are now increasingly being applied to other industries, as well as the wider automotive sector. Relationships have been initiated with other high-performance engineering-based industries like aerospace and marine.

The Powerboat P1 World Championship Series, a rapidly growing new form of motorsport. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

“ The UK boasts some 2,400 companies in the motorsport industry.”

Motorsport Valley is winning the race for new technologies and new markets. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

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CASE STUdy: BERU f1 SySTEMS

Norfolk motorsport engineering specialists BERU F1 Systems has developed an innovative Wire in Composite (WiC), which offers a performance and reliability advantage to a range of vehicles, both within motorsport and in other non-automotive sectors such as aerospace and marine.

WiC isolates wires from physical and chemical damage in a bespoke composite sleeve, permitting designers to improve packaging by laying wires securely side-by-side as opposed to in a traditional bundle. WiC can be formed to virtually any shape, offering the ability to incorporate sharp bend radii without the straining or chafing of a conventional harness.

Originally designed for motorsport applications, in which wiring harnesses must be mounted as low as possible to improve the centre of gravity, WiC has recently been supplied to non-racecar vehicles, thus boosting BERU F1 System’s growth prospects. In 2006, the MIA recognised the company’s achievement and awarded it its prestigious Technology and Innovation Award.

www.f1systems.com

CASE STUdy: gB SOlO

Innovative, state-of-the-art protective fire-fighting helmets are winning customers worldwide for Scunthorpe-based firm GB Solo. It supplies UK-based F1 pit crews, as well as Ferrari in Italy and Toyota in Germany.

SOLOtic is one of the most sought-after products from the company’s range. The helmet provides hands-free thermal imaging and complete protection, combined with an air supply and communications system. This enables operatives to navigate unfamiliar territory and smoke-filled environments, while locating victims or identifying exit routes.

The company, which won the 2004 Exporter of the Year Award, has worked closely with UK Trade & Investment as part of its international trade efforts. Marketing director James Brooks says: “UK Trade & Investment helps to point us in the right direction with certain clients. It is especially good at providing advice on customs issues.”

www.gbsolo.com

“ The 12th team position on the F1 grid for 2008 has recently been awarded to Prodrive, another leading Motorsport Valley engineering and design innovator.”

Wire In Composite (WIC) technology, developed by BERU F1 systems, has vast potential for the motorsport sector. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

2006 British Grand Prix. Silverstone, England. 8th-11th June. Nico Rosberg, Williams FW28 Coworth. Courtesy Williams F1.

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When it comes to motorsport-orientated technologies, the UK qualifies in pole position, with a large proportion of its precision engineering firms enjoying unrivalled reputations across worldwide markets.

Over the last 30 years, for example, UK-built cars have won the majority of F1 World Championship races and, over its long history, most World Rally Championship cars have been designed and manufactured in the UK. Today, a large proportion of the world’s single-seater racing cars are produced here.

In part, Motorsport Valley is the natural modern-day extension of the UK’s long-held dominance in the dynamic world of high-spec automotive design and engineering. Today it boasts a unique diversity of world-class design and high-performance engineering companies.

UK companies conceive, develop, design and manufacture everything from high-tech chassis, seats, cockpits, seatbelts and helmets, to market-leading engines, gearboxes, brakes, transmissions, clutches, suspension systems, telemetry and a seemingly limitless range of precision components. This diversity explains why the UK motorsport industry is so exciting. Its global potential is enormous.

One of the most recent success stories for UK motorsport engineers is the new A1 Grand Prix (A1GP) series. The key elements of the A1GP racecar all have the “Made in Motorsport Valley” signature. These include the chassis and suspension system (manufactured by Lola), the all-aluminium engine and EGS paddle-shift gearing system (Zytek), the high-tech brakes and clutches (AP Racing), the dash-unit control (Pi Research) and extra-narrow tyres (Cooper Avon, through the Avon Tyres Motorsport Brand). A1GP team Australia is run by Alan Docking racing at Silverstone. Another UK company, West Surrey Racing, supports both Team Singapore and Team USA.

Thanks to its first-class innovation strategies, UK motorsport companies are world leaders in high-performance and design engineering.

Apart from the specialist technical know-how provided by UK design engineering companies and consultancies, they also boast first-class research facilities such as emissions laboratories and other testing grounds, supported by a range of advanced technology.

This is illustrated by the services being successfully offered by UK design engineering companies to countries with developing automotive industries which are focused on raising their quality to global standards. One of these key emerging markets is China – where UK firms such as Lotus Engineering, Ricardo, MIRA, Prodrive, Concept Group International and Arup have an ever-increasing presence, and have all recently opened in-country offices.

The quality of the UK’s innovative design engineering capability is amply demonstrated by sales almost doubling over five years and continuing to grow strongly. The broad base of these specialist companies, which also include the likes of Millbrook, Roush and TWI, provides international motorsport and mainstream vehicle manufacturers with the ability not merely to cope with model changes and range expansion, but to meet ever-more complex and stringent legislative demands in areas such as safety and emissions.

DESIGN ENGINEERINGThe internationally recognised UK design engineering sector offers independent expertise to customers around the world. It is expert at creating solutions to the myriad challenges generated by the expanding needs of OEMs and their global suppliers, while also reducing their workload, keeping programmes on schedule and forming lasting partnerships.

Race 1: Greg Mansell (GBR) Team SWR Formula BMW. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com Launch of the P1 at the 2006 Autosport Show. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

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CASE STUdy: gTM CARS

Thanks to its excellence in engineering, Coventry-based GTM Cars has exported its range of specialist sports cars all over the world.

After receiving advice from UK Trade & Investment, and enrolling on its Passport to Export programme, GTM has sold vehicles to Australia, Belgium, Germany, South Africa, the Netherlands and the US. Export sales currently represent about 40 per cent of the turnover of the company, which recently won a UK Trade & Investment Best New Exporter Award.

GTM’s composite manufacturing facility produces all of the body components for its vehicles.

A highly skilled team manufactures each composite body to exacting standards, ensuring strength, safety and superb surface finish. The body is hand laminated with substantial layers of gel coat for great colour depth and long-term durability.

All bodyshells are hand de-seamed and polished to a superb standard and each body can be made in a wide range of colours to customer specification.

General Manager Lloyd Taylor says: “GTM has made considerable efforts over the past few years to sell our vehicles abroad and thanks to UK Trade & Investment we have achieved an outstanding 40 per cent of our turnover from exporting. This really is an example of the help that is available to small and growing companies to excel on a worldwide scale.”

www.gtmcars.com

CASE STUdy: fORd/M-SPORT

In 1996, US giant Ford chose Lake District firm M-Sport to mastermind its assault on the World Rally Championship (WRC) by channelling race technologies into its high-performance cars. Today, M-Sport runs the WRC campaigns for both the BP-Ford and Stobart BK Ford M-Sport teams.

The company now specialises in fully developed high torque friction disc brake pad materials formulated for high to low downforce racecar applications. Used extensively by NASCAR, Champ Car and Late Model Racing Teams in the US and by FIA GT, International Race and Rally Teams in Europe, these friction materials have already had major successes. Mintex, for example, was the pad of choice for over 60 per cent of cars running in the inaugural NASCAR BUSCH Race at the Autodrómo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico in 2005.

As the US is a very important market, TMD Friction regularly exhibits at the country’s annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show. Group motorsport manager Terry Armstead says: “If you are serious about selling into professional US motorsport, PRI is the only event in the calendar which brings together all of the customers and suppliers from the whole industry. It is the most cost-effective medium to communicate our product to the race fraternity.”

Every year, UK Trade & Investment consequently supports a MIA-led mission and UK exhibiting group at this key show – the largest individual country grouping from anywhere in the world.

As well as frequently attending race shows such as PRI, TMD Friction has also formed close relationships with US engineers to maintain their competitive edge, illustrative of the global partnerships at the heart of this industry.

“UK companies should never assume that just because they have been a success domestically or in other markets they know best what US racers will want,” explains Armstead. “US racing is different - culturally as well as technically.

“Our product worked well for Europe, but it took a US race specialist to tweak, tune and refine it specifically for US stock car racing and finally make it the brake pad of choice for US high-level stock car racers.”

TMD Friction, which has regularly commissioned overseas market research reports from UK Trade & Investment, recently established a local presence in the US to provide an additional boost to its stateside strategy. “It didn’t take long for us to realise that American racers are more comfortable dealing with other Americans who have similar experiences and attitudes,” says Armstead. “We employed a US race manager from about 2001 and gradually our US sister company (handily placed within 100 miles of Mooresville, North Carolina, the US centre for stock car teams) assumed more responsibility for the business. At the end of 2005, it took over full race-business responsibility.”

www.mintexracing.com

CASE STUdy: TMd fRICTION - MINTEX BRAKES

TMD Friction has been producing racing friction from the earliest days of the automobile and has a rich history and pedigree. In 1960, for example, Jack Brabham won the F1 World Championship driving a Cooper fitted with the company’s Mintex brakes.

From the company’s £1 million R&D facility, M-Sport engineers and designers work closely with the technical teams building the Focus RS WRC car and their Ford colleagues.

Ford’s Jost Capito says: “We have noticed clear benefits from feeding motorsport knowledge and success in rallying directly into our road-going performance products.”

This investment by Ford reaffirms the UK’s status as the best location for global automotive companies who want to achieve a competitive advantage, both on and off the track.

www.m-sport.co.uk

2006 Ford WRC line up Marcus Gronholm (FIN) and Mikko Hirvonen (FIN). Autosport International Show 2006, NEC, Birmingham. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

ENCOURAGING ENTERPRISEThe UK’s enormous contribution to the manufacturing and high-performance automotive sectors has established extremely positive conditions for both inward and outward investment and trade and international partnerships.

An increasingly significant number of overseas-based mass-market car manufacturers, for example, are now using UK race and design engineering to enhance their road-going vehicles.

Locating to and/or investing in the Motorsport Valley cluster allows engineering companies to work together, innovate, develop products and form lucrative partnerships in a world-class international environment.

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CASE STUdy: TOKyO R&d CO. lTd

This high-tech Japanese engineering firm was so impressed with the expertise of the UK motorsport workforce that it established a subsidiary in Chigwell, Essex. The Vemac Car Company assembles small numbers of Tokyo R&D’s cutting-edge low-volume sports cars.

dEV

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the quality of its workforce. UK engineers and technicians are among the best in the world, and many of them are now employed in motorsport-related companies.

Such courses include Motorsport Electronic Systems, Motorsport Engineering and Design and Motorsport Management. Key to this has been the strong collaboration between the motorsport industry and academia.

Since 2000, the UK’s Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) has forged close working relationships with schools and universities to help deliver high-quality students into the workplace.

Britons are now encouraged to enjoy engineering and motorsport from an early age. The Learning Grid (www.learninggrid.co.uk), for example, is a range of motorsport engineering programmes, linked to engineering, science, design, technology or mathematics.

They include Primary Engineer, which teaches the basic principles of engineering to children from four years of age upwards, and Formula Student, which tasks undergraduates

to design and fabricate a prototype vehicle to specific cost and performance criteria. Other programmes include Formula Schools, Greenpower, Shell Ecomarathon, F1 in Schools and the Youth Engineering Summit. Such projects will ensure that the UK students of today become the leading motorsport engineers, designers and managers of tomorrow.

ENCOURAGING EDUCATIONTwenty UK universities and 120 colleges of further education now offer a wide variety of programmes directly relating to motorsport, at NVQ, HNC and post-graduate levels, ensuring the future supply of skilled engineers and the continuing success of the industry.

CASE STUdy: PROdRIVE

Such is the worldwide success of Banbury-based motorsport technology specialist Prodrive that it has opened its first office in the rapidly growing market of China.

The new office, situated in Shanghai, in the heart of the Chinese automotive industry, is part of Prodrive’s Asia-Pacific operations, which already include a design facility with 80 engineers in Bangkok, and further facilities in Melbourne.

For more than 20 years, Prodrive has been running race and rallying programmes for some of the biggest names in motorsport, including Subaru, Aston Martin, Ford, Porsche, Honda and BMW. Nearly 80 per cent of the components and systems for Subaru’s World Rally Championship Impreza car, for example, are made at Prodrive’s UK site.

Dr Alastair Bacon, who heads up Prodrive’s Chinese operation, says: “There are many innovative technologies and a huge range of technical resources and skills we can bring to the Chinese automotive industry. In the longer term, our aim is to have a design and engineering capability in China.”

www.prodrive.com

The Japanese enterprise saw the UK as a logical location for its subsidiary, due to its world-leading position in racing-car manufacture and technology and its rich history in sports-car building and low-volume production.

Tokyo R&D’s president and CEO Masao Ono says: “For motorsports-related companies, the UK is a very good location for investment, because of the availability of technology and information.

“UK Trade & Investment helped us to locate companies with advanced technology expertise and also assisted with the training of our engineers. We are now hopeful that Vemac’s success with racing cars will lead to the expansion of our road-going sports cars.”

www.r-d.co.jp

“ The 12th team position on the F1 grid for 2008 has recently been awarded to Prodrive, another leading Motorsport Valley engineering and design innovator.”

Students optimising racing car aerodynamics in the University of Southampton. Courtesy www.southamptonF1.com

Prodrive design office. Courtesy Prodrive.

Cutting-edge R&D requires the most modern and well-equipped facilities. This is Prodrive’s new composites factory. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

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Charged with co-ordinating and improving the quality of education and training provision, the academy, a partnership between the MIA and Carter & Carter Group, aims to ensure that the industry has the know-how that it needs to remain the hub of global motorsport.

Over the next three years, more than 12,000 people are expected to improve their skills and knowledge through Motorsport Academy-approved programmes, which will establish training standards, sector-specific qualifications and the sharing of best practice.

The academy will form a strong bridge between education and industry, promote collaboration between researchers and business and support the most talented individuals throughout their motorsport careers.

www.motorsportacademy.org

MOTORSPORT ACAdEMy The Motorsport Academy is the forefront of UK motorsport’s efforts to enhance the skills of its workforce. It has recently been established with the support of Motorsport Development UK.

TRAINING CENTRES

Cranfield UniversityCranfield University offers graduates an MSc in Motorsport Engineering and Management. Its new £2.45 million Lightweight Structures Laboratories provide students with state-of-the-art composites, crash and impact research facilities and focus on safety-related research within motorsport. In addition, Cranfield operates wind tunnels, vehicle dynamics and other motorsport-related facilities.

Cranfield’s postgraduates, which come not just from the UK but also from countries such as Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the US, go on to employment with many of the world’s leading motorsport companies. The university’s Motorsport Alumni Association has become a highly influential worldwide network.

“We normally look at recruiting approximately 20 full-time MSc students onto the IMechE accredited programme each year,” says Cranfield’s Clive Temple. “We seek to attract students who will secure employment in motorsport and our track record speaks for itself.

“We also support PhDs in relation to motorsport and these can be in conjunction with F1, leading teams and tier-one companies. If a non-EU student brings funding we will give serious consideration to their undertaking research here at Cranfield.

Warwickshire CollegeWarwickshire College’s prospectus includes one-year courses such as an Introduction to Motorsport and Racecar Body Preparation & Fabrication, as well as a two-year foundation diploma in Motorsport Engineering. This provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to work at an advanced technician level within the industry.

www.warkscol.ac.uk

The University of SouthamptonThe University of Southampton runs the UK’s only postgraduate course in Racecar Aerodynamics, taking eight students, from the UK and overseas, each year. Over the years, a number of race teams, such as BAR, Benetton, Penske, Prost, Sauber and Tyrrell, have tested cars in its wind tunnels. The university’s commitment to providing motorsports-relevant R&D courses and infrastructure is second to none.

www.soton.ac.uk

Swansea InstituteSwansea Institute, through its dedicated School of Automotive Engineering, has an increasingly strong relationship with its local racetrack, Pembrey Circuit, Llanelli, regarded as the home of Welsh motorsport. The institute offers programmes in Motorsport Engineering, Motorsport Electronics and Motorsport Engineering & Design. Swansea shortly intends to have its own exclusive dedicated testing facilities at Pembrey, including a skid-pan and fully equipped workshops.

www.sihe.ac.uk

Oxford BrookesOxford Brookes has a reputation for high-quality education and research. It has a wide motorsport/automotive portfolio, strong links with companies such as Williams F1, Renault F1, Xtrac and Prodrive, and outstanding student employability. Its School of Technology is a renowned centre of excellence for motorsport, while a brand new, purpose-built Motorsport Engineering Centre provides state-of-the-art teaching, research, consultancy and testing facilities.

www.brookes.ac.uk“Former students have gone onto companies such as Williams F1, Honda Racing F1, McLaren Racing, Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, Spyker F1, Renault F1, Toyota F1, Super Aguri F1, M-Sport, Prodrive, Xtrac, Chip Ganassi Racing, Hitech Racing, Triple Eight, Performance Friction, Promatecme, Team Australia, T-Sport, Alan Docking Racing, Rocketsports Racing, Racing Engineering, Mygale, G-Force, Richard Childress Racing, Performance Racing, Fluid Motorsport Development, EM Motorsport, Menard Competition Technologies and Scuderia Ecosse.”

www.motorsport.cranfield.ac.uk or email [email protected]

Alcon’s patented brake calipers are installed in every Honda F1 Racing car. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

Cranfield University student. Courtesy Cranfield University.

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The University of HertfordshireThe University of Hertfordshire (UH) has one of the largest, oldest and most successful automotive and motorsport teaching schools in the UK. Over 500 students currently study on automotive and motorsport-related BSc, BEng and MEng degree courses.

The university places a specific focus on producing ‘job-ready’ engineers through a combination of academic excellence blended with real-world project experience. In Formula Student, UH Racing has achieved top UK Class 1 team twice in the last five years, has won Class 1-200 outright on two occasions and has competed in Australia and Detroit.

www.herts.ac.uk

The National College of Motorsport

Fernando Alonso (EPS) Renault R26. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

The National College of Motorsport is a partnership of three further education colleges based in the heart of Motorsport Valley, led by Tresham Institute of Further & Higher Education. It was the first vocational centre for motorsport and performance engineering to tackle the decline and shortage of craft technicians’ skills within the motorsport industry. Tresham Institute, based at Silverstone circuit, provides training for students entering motorsport as race technicians.

www.nc4m.ac.uk

Other UK colleges and universities that offer motorsport engineering courses include Brunel University, Kingston University and Myerscough College.

“ No less than seven of the current 11 F1 teams have chosen to operate from bases in Motorsport Valley.”

Johann Gibson receiving her BRDC trophy from Sir Jackie Stewart. Courtesy Cranfield University.

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The UK, and particularly London, is a world centre for motorsport support and service activities. These include event management, public relations, media, marketing, advertising, merchandising, sponsorship, insurance, accountancy and legal services. The many specialists in these areas contribute to the UK motorsport industry’s brand, performance and opportunities and enhance its appeal to overseas investors.

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CASE STUdy: RAwlINSON & HUNTER

Internationally renowned chartered accountants Rawlinson & Hunter have headquarters in London, which is the hub of a network of offices worldwide, from New Zealand to the Caribbean.

The firm advises and navigates its motorsport clients through the complexities of UK and international financial and tax legislation.

It has particular expertise in advising individuals and companies on VAT regulations, employment contracts and share schemes, transfer pricing and how to take advantage of the enhanced R&D tax credits on offer to the UK motorsport industry.

Corporate services partner James Kelly says: “We undertake a significant amount of high-profile motorsport work, advising overseas individuals and companies trying to set up here in the UK.

“Recent clients have included an overseas World Rally team, whom we helped make a successful R&D tax credit claim. We are now targeting a new Japanese client.”

He adds: “Rawlinson & Hunter is aware of the work of UK Trade & Investment and has used some of its services. Recent overseas marketing trips have included a visit to a number of the organisation’s offices in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, and I was impressed by their operation. I have also been on a UK Trade & Investment-assisted visit to China, which was supported by the MIA.”

www.rawlinson-hunter.com

CASE STUdy: INTERNATIONAl SPORTSwORld COMMUNICATORS (ISC)

London-based ISC, the broadcasting partner of the World Rally Championship (WRC), has transformed the profile of the sport, helping it to attract the attention of a greater dedicated global audience.

Intent on making the WRC accessible to millions of established and new viewers around the world, ISC has fostered an unprecedented level of commercial and marketing interest by negotiating several key partnerships to boost the competition’s mass-market appeal. Such initiatives include a Sony WRC Playstation 2 game, contracts for TV prime-time slots with a host of international broadcasters, and uploading races in real- time on the web.

To ensure greater penetration in the vast Asian market, ISC recently concluded a three-year agreement with Total

Sports Asia (TSA), with the latter taking responsibility for WRC media distribution in the key territories of China, south-east Asia and India. Managed and controlled commercially from the UK, the WRC is set for greater market dominance, with ISC at the helm.

www.wrc.com

FIA President Max Mosely is interviewed by journalists at the F1 Italian Grand Prix. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

“ The UK provides the best environment for the motorsports industry. It offers a unique gateway of international connections and is a recognised global leader in the fields of innovation, design engineering and product development.”

F1 fever hits Bahrain. Courtesy www.crashpa.net

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CASE STUdy: KHP CONSUlTINg

KHP is an international marketing and communications agency specialising in F1 and other motorsports. With headquarters in London and overseas offices in Paris, Munich and Bahrain, the company focuses on PR and communication, event management, in-market exploitation and sponsorship strategy.

In F1, KHP has recently concluded the first phase of a multi-year exclusive contract with the Bahrain International Circuit. The role is wide-ranging, including marketing, event management, year-round PR, as well as setting up and managing all the extensive media facilities. Other major clients have included Shell, Nortel Networks, Ford, BMW and Porsche.

“Motorsport is our primary focus,” explains KHP’s James Fraser. “Our services range from strategic PR campaigns to event management/hospitality, sponsorship and general marketing. The service we provide is unparalleled as we work with teams, sponsors and promoters, as well as enjoying a successful relationship with the sport’s governing bodies and commercial partners, allowing us to guide our clients carefully through the minefield of Formula One. Put quite simply, we are the only agency in the world which works for the rights holders, promoters, teams and sponsors. We successfully maintain and retain the longest promotion contract within F1 with the German Grand Prix, which started in 1985.

“KHP has been involved in F1 over the last 20 years in 12 different countries, totalling 67 Grand Prix. We played an integral part in the process of taking F1 to Bahrain in 2004 and have now worked on all three Grand Prix there. In 2006, we conceived the ‘Yallah! Bahrain’ range of events, which we will continue in 2007.

“These have helped to entertain, educate and bring F1 closer to the general public in Bahrain and in the Gulf states as a whole.

“Notable sponsorship deals include Ford, BP, Castrol and Mastercard and other global brands for a range of teams within motorsport. We have recently brought new sponsors into F1, including PVAXX, which is the first long-term deal for a Middle Eastern-based company in F1.

“We are also heavily involved in celebrity-endorsement brokering deals between personalities and properties, an example being Jenson Button and Durrat al Bahrain.”

Bernie Ecclestone, CEO and president of Formula One Management Ltd, is a big fan of KHP, stating: “Operating in F1’s very tough environment, KHP has proved over and over again that they can deliver beyond their client’s expectations. I would have no difficulty in recommending KHP as a company with which to do business.”

www.khpconsulting.com

David Coulthard (GBR) Red Bull Racing the race Sky One TV show. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

The appointed broker to the main governing bodies for two, three and four-wheel motorsport, Alexander Forbes Motor Sport Risk Services has formed close working relationships with motorsports teams, manufacturers and suppliers, advising on all aspects of risk management and insurance programme design, as well as providing advice for acquisitions and disposals.

The firm’s wide range of expertise and experience includes: engineering firms; parts and equipment suppliers; engine builders/tuners; circuit owners/managers; vehicle transporters; classic cars; clubs; personal accident; travel; storage and transit; event cancellation; prize indemnity; and race and rally schools.

www.uk.lockton.com

CASE STUdy: AlEXANdER fORBES

UK insurance brokers like Manchester-based Alexander Forbes work with many of the leading names in international motorsport, providing vital niches of insurance cover in a complex and demanding marketplace.

CASE STUdy: wRAggE & CO.

Wragge & Co., which was recently named one of the UK’s most innovative law firms, uses its considerable experience of the motorsport and wider automotive industry to provide legal advice to multinational original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and tier one and two component manufacturers, many of whom are internationally owned.

Its team of lawyers, based in Birmingham, London and Brussels, comprises members of the UK Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Partner Stuart Young says: “The unusual complexity and volatility of the motor industry calls for an exceptional breed of legal adviser. Working from the heartland of UK car manufacturing, we’re living and breathing the same commercial environment in which vehicle and component manufacturers, suppliers and distributors all have to work - so we’re geared to providing a high quality of service to every level in the chain of production and sale.

“We have worked closely with the MIA to provide advice to many of its members. We also worked intensively on the sale of the Jaguar F1 team to Red Bull, which marked its entry into Formula One. Other clients have included Prodrive and Cosworth - key players in international motorsport.

“At a time of unending change, Wragge & Co offers continuity and a real insight into the industry, based on years of first-hand experience both in the UK and worldwide.”

www.wragge.com

Subaru World Rally Championship team. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

“ Motorsport Valley in the UK: the ideal location for your European-based business.”

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CASE STUdy: HONdA f1

Japanese car maker Honda has developed a close relationship with the UK that stretches back some 40 years.

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and overseas firms can work together successfully on a global stage. Most overseas-based original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have partnerships with UK motorsport companies to harness their race-bred R&D and prototyping capabilities, high-performance engineering skills and next-generation technology for the development of modern road vehicles.

Such major players as Honda, Renault, Subaru and Ford are taking advantage of the unique skills and expertise on offer in the UK. A large proportion of UK motorsport-related business is either “born global”, supplying the global market, or is leading innovation in multinational enterprises.

The membership base of the UK’s Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), the trade association for the motorsport industry, now includes an ever-increasing number of international companies. Opportunities for overseas companies to benefit from the capabilities of the UK motorsport industry in developing their global business have never been more open or plentiful.

UK Trade & Investment can help every step of the way, whether the interest is in identifying potential partners or suppliers, or setting up in the UK. Services offered by UK Trade & Investment include making arrangements for investors to visit target locations and meet with key contacts, as well as providing national, regional and local information.

It currently employs a total of 5,500 people in the UK in an investment worth £1.3 billion. When Honda F1 was looking to invest £30 million in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel and aerodynamic centre, it was therefore only natural that its partner of choice would be Motorsport Valley. Installed in Brackley, six miles from the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, the fully automated wind tunnel can generate and direct wind speeds of up to 180mph at a full-size Honda F1 racecar.

Commenting on the decision to invest in the UK, Shigeru Takagi, president of Honda Motor Europe, said: “Our desire to become Formula One champions requires a very strong infrastructure and it is with this in mind that we have invested in our new wind tunnel at Brackley. This facility is a demonstration of our strong commitment to the UK.”

Alistair Darling, UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, added: “This impressive facility shows that the UK is still attracting the best engineering and manufacturing in the world. The wind tunnel is another excellent example of partnership between the best of British and the best of Japanese know-how.”

www.hondaracingf1.comVisitors to the Honda Racing F1 team wind tunnel. Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

CASE STUdy: ROUSH TECHNOlOgIES

US companies have been making substantial investments into the UK motorsport industry over recent years. A recent example of this is Roush Technologies, which opened its engineering services division in Brentwood in 1995 as part of its global strategy.

The company saw the UK as its logical entry point into Europe, while the Brentwood location was close to the UK home of Ford, one of its major customers. In late 2003, Roush acquired Essex race-engine manufacturer Mountune in order to develop the motorsport side of the business. “It complemented our activities in the UK,” explains Roush’s John Tampkins. “Motorsport is a key Roush activity in North America and it was logical to do the same in the UK, the centre of motorsport engineering in Europe, if not the world. It also provided synergies with our existing activities in the area of prototype engine building. Mountune builds engines for many forms of motorsport, including saloons, single seaters and rally cars. The investment is proving increasingly successful, with several new projects about to kick off.

www.roush.co.uk

CASE STUdy: RENAUlT f1

Established in 1992, the Whiteways Technical Centre has more than 500 technicians and engineers, working on everything from advanced R&D and design to manufacturing the chassis and transmission systems.

The UK and French sites enjoy a smooth and complementary relationship: the general management, testing and racing operations are handled from Enstone; while the engines are manufactured across the channel and supplied from there for general assembly.

A winning partnership – as Renault’s 2006 F1 Championship triumph clearly demonstrated.

www.renaultf1.comThe entrance to Renault F1’s Whiteways Technical Centre at Enstone

Courtesy www.sutton-images.com

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UK

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CONTACTS

MOTORSPORT DEVELOPMENT UK

Motorsport Development UK is the public-private partnership leading a five-year investment programme to sustain and develop UK motorsport. Its programmes – Motorsport Academy, Learning Grid, Widening Participation, Business Development and Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) – all aim to improve the competitiveness of the industry.

Motorsport Development UK, Silverstone Innovation Centre, Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, NN12 8GX

Tel: +44 (0)1327 856020 Email: [email protected] www.motorsportdevelopment.co.uk

SOCIETY OF MOTOR MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS (SMMT)

The SMMT encourages and promotes the motor industry in the UK and abroad, seeking to sustain the environment, improve competitiveness, shape legislation, meet customer demand, facilitate new technology, maximise globalisation, improve market place delivery and positively inform.

Forbes House, Halkin Street, London, SW1X 7DS

Tel: +44 (0)20 7344 9260 Email: [email protected] www.smmt.co.uk

MOTORSPORT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (MIA)

Founded in 1994 and now representing over 300 member companies that transact over £3 billion of motorsport business. Working closely with UK Trade & Investment and other private and public stakeholders, the MIA represents, promotes and protects the interests of the UK motorsport industry. Missions, group attendance at trade shows, business conferences, workshops, support for technology and furthering education are just some of the activities the MIA carries out to benefit motorsport worldwide.

Federation House Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2RF Tel: +44 (0)2476 692 600 www.the-mia.com

UK TRADE & INVESTMENT

Headquarters: London and Glasgow

Tel: +44 (0)20 7215 8000 www.uktradeinvest.gov.ukUK Trade & Investment’s role is a proactive

one of facilitating overseas investment in the UK and enabling domestic business to expand confidently overseas.

As the UK Government’s international business development organisation, we help companies internationalise. The services offered by UK Trade & Investment bring together a network of business sector specialists and support teams around the UK and in British diplomatic posts all around the world.

We give overseas companies advice on setting up in the UK; bespoke client account management and introductions to professional advisers; support with exporting from the UK; and help with visits to suitable locations, finding business partners and accessing financial incentives.

We also help UK companies expand globally by providing advice and training, market information, and practical help for market visits.

To help promote internationally the UK’s world-renowned capabilities in the motorsport industry and ensure that it remains a global centre of excellence, UK Trade & Investment has dedicated teams, covering both inward investment and trade development in the motorsport industry.

With headquarters in London and Glasgow, but present worldwide in the UK’s network of embassies, high commissions, consulates and trade offices, UK Trade & Investment, working with its national and regional partners, provides a range of bespoke information, research and support to companies in motorsport and advanced engineering industries interested in taking advantage of what the UK has to offer.

UK Trade & Investment assists UK companies to showcase their R&D excellence at motorsport trade shows in the UK and around the world.

MOTORSPORT TITLES PUBLISHED FROM THE UKAutosport (The world’s best-selling motorsport weekly) www.autosport.com

BusinessF1 www.businessf1.com

Racecar Engineeringwww.racecar-engineering.com

Race Tech www.racetechmag.com

Professional Motorsport World www.ukintpress.com/mag_motorsport.htm

Motorsport Valley®

The business of winningProduced bi-annually by the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) and supported by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)www.the-mia.com

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Andrew Cahn – UK Trade & Investment Chief Executive.

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whereas every effort has been made to ensure that the information given in this document is accurate, UK Trade & Investment or its supporting departments, the departments of Trade and Industry, and

the foreign and Commonwealth Office, accept no responsibility for any errors, omissions or misleading statements in this document and no warranty is given or responsibility is accepted, as to the standing

of any individual, firm, company, individual or other organisation mentioned in this document.