The cross-linking of motorsport technology with road vehicles and with the wider industrial sector will form a significant part of the focus of the Autosport International 2010 event, to be staged at the U.K.’s National Exhibition Center (NEC) near Birmingham in January. It includes a two-day, trade-only engineering event, which buyers and decision makers from some 50 countries are expected to attend.
Overall, the show organizers are planning to accommodate more than 800 trade exhibitors (the number attending the previous show) in nine halls of the NEC. The show embraces the broad spectrum of the motorsport industry, from racecar manufacturers and engine companies. The U.K. maintains a high profile in motorsport engineering, with some 3000 companies providing rapid design-to-manufacture times, constant research, testing, and development.
Engineering forms an integral part of the overall show and the countries represented this year will, for the first time, include Taiwan, with Zage Turbosystems demonstrating its range of hybrid turbos optimized for use with Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Nissan race engines, plus exhaust manifolds, actuators, and compressor casings.
Manufacturing and production engineering receive particular emphasis and include representatives of other industries including those operating in the aerospace, marine, and military sectors that may benefit from motorsport technology expertise.
A trade and technical section will again be featured, enabling engineering-orientated companies to exhibit to the trade as well as the general public for the four full days (January 14-17) of the show.
Other companies at the NEC include Xtrac (hybrid transmission specialist), Zircotec (plasma spray coatings), Eibach Springs (performance suspension manufacturer), Drenth (gearboxes), Koni (shock absorbers), SPA Group (composites and dynamometers), Burton Power (engines), and Kent Cams (camshafts).
“The current economic climate is undoubtedly tough, yet there was a highly positive atmosphere at last year’s Autosport International and many exhibitors use the show to leverage diversification opportunities into other sectors,” said Show Director Ian France. “Furthermore, technology transfer between race and road cars includes hybrid drive, KERS (Kinetic Energy Release Systems), aerodynamics, and the development of the double-clutch gearbox, which, having been proven on track, is now available on popular superminis.”