MIA To Play Key Part In Automotive Technology Revolution

Birmingham, Jan. 13, 2011: Key figures from the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), Automotive Council and the Motor Sports Association (MSA), today agreed a way forward for a revolutionary 'Motorsport to Automotive' initiative which was proposed to the conference delegates.

Delegates talked of the future, and how the automotive and motorsport industries could best combine forces. Chris Aylett (MIA CEO) recalled when, in 2003, Ulrich Baretzky declared that Audi would soon win Le Mans with a diesel car - only to be greeted by much scepticism.

Aylett spoke about looking to a future that 'motorsport dinosaurs' can't yet imagine and of a target for the motorsport and automotive industries to work much more closely, resulting in faster and more innovative developments. Throughout the day it was acknowledged that we are at the dawn of the biggest changes in automotive technology for 100 years.

The first keynote speaker, Richard Parry-Jones CBE, Industry Chair of the Automotive Council, proposed the 'Motorsport to Automotive' concept. Though a link has been assumed for many years, a distance between the sectors has developed. The Automotive Council continues to work on its 'Roadmap' for future automotive technologies, which sees the UK leading the low-carbon revolution - vehicle emissions have already dropped by 21 percent since the end of the last decade.

Rt Hon Lord Drayson, newly-appointed MIA President, talked about the speed of change and how the automotive industry can learn from other sectors which have already gone through radical development, such as the pharmaceutical industry, and make those changes faster to meet Government goals. Small companies have the technology; large companies have the market. The key is for innovative motorsport businesses to find a way of working with the larger automotive giants.

Sporting regulation was a hot topic of the day. Much debate concerned regulatory driving forces. The MIA 'Motorsport to Automotive' initiative is, potentially, an important vehicle for overcoming any hurdles.

UK Trade & Investment Business Ambassador, Nick Fry, emphasised three messages, following a meeting with David Cameron, Vince Cable and William Hague yesterday. He stressed that UK motorsport companies should not doubt how good they are; that the UK Government is wholly behind the industry; and that it is imperative to keep knocking on international doors to sell.

The MIA's CEO Chris Aylett is enthused by the new initiative: "The timing seems right for the UK motorsport industry to work closely with the Automotive Council and the Technology Strategy Board to help with their low carbon plans. This is a great opportunity at a totally unique time for the automotive industry. Motorsport must grasp the chance for business."