Lord Drayson Accepts Presidency Of The MIA

London, Jan. 13, 2011: The Right Honourable Lord Drayson of Kensington has accepted the invitation from members to become the new Honorary President of the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA).

Lord Astor of Hever stepped down from the role upon his appointment as a Defence Minister in the new UK Government, following 14 years of outstanding leadership and diplomacy on behalf of the motorsport industry.

Paul Drayson brings a unique range of business, motorsport and Parliamentary experience to the MIA. An engineering graduate of Aston University, his first degree was sponsored by BL Cars and developed his passion for motorsport which had been sparked by growing up near the Brands Hatch race circuit in Kent. He completed a PhD in robotics, before founding PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc in 1993, which became one of the world's leading vaccine companies under his guidance. He sold his shares in 2003, and became a working peer in the UK Parliament a year later.

Before last year's General Election, he held positions as Minister of Science and Innovation in the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, and Minister of State for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform in the Ministry of Defence.

His results in business and politics have been matched by his success in pioneering green technology on the racetrack. He achieved a UK first by winning the 2007 Snetterton round of the British GT Championship, racing a unique bio-fuelled Aston Martin DBRS9. Since 2009, driving for his own team - Drayson Racing (www.draysonracing.com) - he has contested the ALMS, LMS and Asian Le Mans series, and driven at Le Mans, Sebring and in the Petit Le Mans endurance races. Last year, he won outright at Road America, and Drayson Racing came third overall in the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Championship, campaigning a unique Flex-Fuel Lola-Judd V10 LMP1 coupe.

Said MIA Chairman Alistair Fergusson, "Lord Drayson has been a staunch supporter of the MIA for many years. He has a keen and well-informed understanding of the value of our industry and the wider contribution it can make to UK plc and the wealth of other nations. As a racer and an engineer, he has firsthand knowledge of the challenges engendered by the sport which MIA members underpin. His experience in Government will be invaluable in our efforts to more widely develop our industry. Our new Honorary President will be a huge asset to the MIA and our members around the world. I look forward to working with him and taking the MIA to its next stage of development."

Lord Drayson commented: "I am a longstanding fan of the MIA and its achievements, and firmly believe it has an ever-increasing role to play in optimising the world-class resources and talent that lie within the motorsport industry. I believe my career and experience in business and Government, coupled with my lifelong passion for motor racing, will be of aid to the MIA's work and the prosperity of its members. There is no better way to launch my Presidency than by getting stuck in with the MIA team at this week's Autosport International Show and meeting as many fellow members as I can."