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About

About the MIA

The Motorsport Industry Association is the world's leading trade association for the motorsport, high performance engineering, services and tuning sectors. As an industry that is constantly having to deal with rapid development, it’s our role to globally represent and support the specialised needs of our members.

The 'Concept Team'

In April 1994, leading personalities from the world of British motorsport joined forces and formed their own trade association. The aim was to promote motorsport as an industry - and arguably, one of the UK’s most successful. The original concept was proposed by founder and original CEO, Brian Sims.

Rob Baldock held the post of Chairman for many years and with John Kirkpatrick successfully remaining on the annually elected committee, continuity in the MIA’s governance has been preserved. Read Launch Papers.

Original Executive Committee

The first Executive Committee members were:

  • Rob Baldock - Accenture
  • Dick Scammel - Cosworth
  • Tony Schulp - Haymarket
  • John Kirkpatrick - Jim Russell Racing Driver's School
  • Tony Panaro - Euro Northern Travel
  • Tony Fletcher - Premier Fuels

Honorary President

In 1996, the Rt. Hon. the Lord Astor of Hever PC, DL accepted the role as MIA’s Honorary President. In 2010 and following 14 years’ of outstanding leadership, Lord Astor stepped down (having been appointed Defence Minister in the new UK Government). In recognition of his momentous contribution to our industry, Lord Astor accepted the Award for Outstanding Personal Contribution at the MIA Summer Reception in 2010.

2011-15 Change of Presidency

Lord Astor’s successor, the Rt. Hon. the Lord Drayson of Kensington assumed the presidency in January 2011. A working peer since 2004 and managing partner of Drayson Racing, Lord Drayson brought with him a unique range of business, motorsport and parliamentary experience. He handed back the reins to Lord Astor in 2015 when the latter’s term as Defence Minister ended.

 

Our network - with worldwide reach

Today, we have over 250 members operating across an international network of business contacts. Collectively, our member companies transact more than £5 billion of motorsport business worldwide and the good news is that this network continues to grow. As the only Accredited Trade Organisation (ATO) for motorsport, in partnership with the Department for International Trade (DIT), we deliver international trade activities on every continent. Members also come to us for investment, funding and export advice.

What we can deliver

As the only Accredited Trade Organisation (ATO) for motorsport, in partnership with the Department for International Trade (DIT), we deliver international trade activities on every continent. Members also come to us for investment, funding and export advice. 

Here’s a flavour of what we can provide...

Representation

Our members come from the many diverse sectors of motorsport: high performance engineering and tuning companies; race and rally teams; governing bodies; motorsport services; research organisations; race circuits; universities and colleges. Our aim is to represent members and endorse the industry’s positive profile. We will speak on behalf of sectors or as a whole when needed.

Political support is crucial. As joint secretary of the All Party Motor Group, we are at the heart of discussions that affect the industry’s long term economic prospects and collaborate closely with both the UK’s and European Parliaments.

 

Promotion

Working with the UK’s Local Enterprise Partnerships, we help those regions that are committed to motorsport industry development.

We’re justifiably proud of the work we’ve undertaken to promote and encourage energy efficient technologies in motorsport. We took the international lead with our ‘Cleaner Racing’ initiative which was first conceived back in 2001 and spawned many subsequent conferences over the years.

 

  

Business development

We’re committed to helping our members establish business and collaborative opportunities. We organise networking dinners and events with sought-after speakers and key influencers in their fields of expertise.

We encourage cross-sector collaboration between motorsport, automotive, defence, marine and aerospace through our Technology Transfer conferences and events. Knowledge sharing across disciplines has proven to work when resolving critical issues.

For members looking to discover new markets and develop fresh opportunities, we also provide sources of research as well as liaise with many government agencies regarding the development of international trade and motorsport investment.

  

Careers advice and support

Fostering the education of the next generation, we’re here to offer motorsport career advice and assistance; we support a variety of educational initiatives including Formula Schools and Formula Student. We host specialised motorsport education groups - the Motorsport Educators Forum (MEF) and the International Motorsport Education Forum (IMEF).


 

Promotion

As part of our commitment to education, we run the successful MIA School of Race Engineering which bridges the gap between motorsport engineering and becoming a Race Engineer. This programme is tailored to individuals who want to pursue a career in motorsport with tutors who are eager to share their experiences and still work in the industry today. 

The MIA Committee

Learn More