Motorsport Industry Association

The Motorsport Industry Association is the trade association for the motorsport industry in the United Kingdom. Most top-level motorsport constructors are based in the UK. Around 75% of motorsport research and development takes place in the UK.

History

It was established in April 1994. The UK motorsport industry has mostly developed on former airfields in the south Midlands.

Function

It represents the UK motorsport industry at a national level. Around 4,500 companies in the UK are involved in the motorsport industry, with an annual turnover of around £6 billion, with more than half being exports. It spends 30% of turnover on research and development. There are around 25,000 qualified engineers involved in the UK industry. The MIA was started by Brian Sims, ex-Marketing Director of F1 Benetton and Lola and achieved significant success before the current CEO. Brian Sims is a recognized authority on sponsorship in sport and lectures at Oxford Brookes University and other institutions as a visiting lecturer. He was responsible for created the annual awards ceremony at the House of Lords and bringing in sponsorship that led to the success of the MIA.

National Motorsport Week is at the end of June each year.

Structure

Although most of the British motorsport industry is based in the so-called Motorsport Valley (the name comes from Silicon Valley) in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, around the Silverstone Circuit, the organisation is in Warwickshire, just a short drive up the M40.

See also

• Formula One Group
• Formula One Constructors Association
• Motor Sports Association - governing body
• Automotive industry in the United Kingdom
• Glossary of motorsport terms

References

External links

• MIA

News items

• British motorsport in May 2010
• Le Mans in June 2009
• Grand Prix in March 2000