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PRESS RELEASE
21 January 2016
For Immediate Release
RECORD AUDIENCE AT 10th MIA ENERGY EFFICIENT MOTORPORT CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON ENERGY USE AND FUTURE FOR AUTONOMOUS RACING

The Motorsport Industry Association's (MIA) 10th annual Energy Efficient Motorsport Conference enjoyed a record audience from the automotive, motorsport and wider high-performance engineering industry.

Enthusiastic discussions focused on such topics as future opportunities for autonomous racing, the entertainment vs. technology balance in motorsport and the continued exploitation of new cutting-edge technology and energy efficient capabilities of motorsport in parallel industry sectors.

Delivered in association with AVL, the event took place at Birmingham's NEC on the eve of Autosport International (Wednesday 13 January 2016), with the MIA heralding the strong attendance as a positive sign for a successful 2016.

This is the world's only conference focused on race-bred energy efficient innovation, and brought together internationally-recognised names from the automotive and motorsport worlds. This elite audience heard experts discuss the development trajectory for both sectors over the coming five to ten years. 

Welcoming 250 global industry and media delegates, the conference boasted a particularly strong panel, who covered diverse topics focused on the future. These included how to capture fan imagination through technological development and a vision for the next innovation step-change in motorsport.

Four discussion sessions took place, featuring 13 world-renowned industry leaders from Audi Sport, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, the FIA, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, Ricardo, Transport Systems Catapult and Williams Advanced Engineering.

Chris Aylett, CEO of the MIA, summarised: "Today, we focused on future opportunities for collaboration between automotive and motorsport, over the next five to ten years. Looking back over the past decade, who would have thought a diesel Le Mans winner and a global electric race series would become a reality? Both radical concepts were the subject of deep discussions at MIA conferences years ago, to some hilarity, and yet these visionary discussions have now born real fruit.

"So, what can we expect in the future? The automotive industry is clearly handling a difficult balancing act between technological development of the car and air quality. Solutions to these offer many exciting business opportunities for fast response collaboration with the motorsport supply chain. At the same time, to stay alive and prosper, motorsport must remain relevant and entertaining to our future fan base. Particularly interesting was the discussion on the future of autonomous vehicles and how the technology needed already exists within the motorsport supply chain."

Gerard Neveu, conference panellist and CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship, commented on the potential for motorsport to help the development of connected and autonomous vehicles. He said: "Motorsport is a vital showcase, where OEMs explore and test new designs, concepts and technologies. However, motorsport needs to make sure fans see a connection with their real life to keep the sport interesting.

"One area where collaboration could happen is with autonomous vehicles, where it is possible to forecast an autonomous pace car in world motorsport. There already exists technological capability within the motorsport supply chain, which could support the real-world testing schedules required by OEMs investing in this area. What's more, autonomous vehicles would make engineers the heroes of race wins. This is good for motorsport, as it must appeal to the next generation of designers and skilled technicians."

Aylett concluded: "This year's Energy Efficient Motorsport Conference was a resounding success. We were delighted to welcome so many delegates who enjoyed a thought-provoking world-class panellist line-up. The well-informed and powerful debates set a fascinating perspective for the future of motorsport. Our panellists' unique insights highlighted a number of valuable new opportunities available to motorsport businesses. I eagerly anticipate an exciting and prosperous few years ahead for MIA members and motorsport too."

The conference featured a stunning in-room vehicle and technology showcase of the very latest energy-efficient innovations, including the 2015 Drive eO 'PP03', the first electric car to win the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb outright; and the chance for delegates to test drive the Tesla Model S P85D. 

Others appearing in the technology showcase included: the AVL; Advanced Propulsion Centre UK; British Radio Car Association; ETPS; Forward Composites; Greenpower Trust; MAHLE Powertrain; MDL Technologies; Meteor Power; Ricardo; RML Group; SPAL Automotive; Tesla; University of Bolton; Vayon Group; Warwick Manufacturing Group; Weald Technology; and Xtrac.

Panellists included: Ulrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Development at Audi Sport; Jon Beasley, Director of Technology & Projects at the Advanced Propulsion Centre; Andy Cowell, Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains; Kristaps Dambis, Project Director at Drive eO; Andrew Everett, Chief Strategy Officer at the Transport Systems Catapult; Tony Harper, Head of Research at Jaguar Land Rover; Jon Hilton, President-Elect of IMechE and Deputy Chairman of Torotrak; John Iley, Director of Iley Design; Adrian Moore, Managing Director of Xtrac; Gerard Neveu, CEO FIA World Endurance Championship; Steve Sapsford, Business Strategy Director at Ricardo; Craig Wilson, Managing Director of Williams Advanced Engineering; and Peter Wright, President of the FIA's Safety Commission.

International and automotive delegates included those from Alcon Components; Bosch Engineering; Circuit Zolder; Code Automotive; Comp Performance Group; Continental Engineering Services; Chengdu CESC; CompFriction; DC Electronics; Ford Motor Company; Fortin Racing; Grainger & Worrall; Hewland Engineering; Honda R&D Europe; Hyundai Motor Europe; Indycar; Millbrook Proving Ground; ML Electronics; Moog Controls; Mygale; OAK Racing; Prodrive; Richard Childress Racing; SCORE International; Silverstone Park; Sodemo; Staubli UK; Swindon Engines; Tata Motors; Toyota Racing Development; Xtrac; and YCOM.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

:: For press information regarding the MIA, please contact:
Aimee Postle
Tel: 01926 776900
Mob: 07792 903630
- or -
Jayne Thomas
Mob: 07842 112 508

:: Photography
:: To download a selection of high-res images from the MIA Energy Efficient Motorsport Conference, please use the links below:

- EEMSC 2016 audience
<http://docs.provapr.co.uk/Audience%2001.jpg > 

- EEMSC display vehicles
<http://docs.provapr.co.uk/Display%20Vehicles%2032.jpg> 

- EEMSC panel - Technology and entertainment: Kristaps Dambis, John Iley, Andy Cowell, Chris Aylett
<http://docs.provapr.co.uk/Panel%20Sessions%2015.jpg> 

:: About the MIA. The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) www.the-mia.com is the world's leading trade association for the motorsport, high-performance engineering, and services sectors. It represents the specialised needs of a highly-successful industry which, although extending throughout the world and rapidly expanding in the developing nations, is centred here in the UK.
The MIA membership displays a wide demographic spread, including: motorsport and performance engineering companies, race and rally teams, governing bodies, motorsport services, research organisations, race circuits and universities and colleges.

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Registered name: Motorsport Industry Association Limited. Registered Offices: Eighth Floor, 6 New Street Square, London, EC4A 3AQ. Registered in England and Wales number: 2899327. GB VAT registration no: 638 3707 20.


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