Motorsport to Defence

The MIA Motorsport to Defence Initiative

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In January 2007, the challenge of linking Motorsport to Defence was issued by Lord Drayson (then Minister for Procurement at the Ministry of Defence) and Lord Astor of Hever, Shadow Defence Minister. Fully aware of the advanced engineering skills involved in designing racing vehicles which can attain high levels of performance and reliability over variable terrain whilst enduring extremes of temperature and adverse climatic conditions, both Parliamentarians were convinced of the synergies which exist between the Motorsport and Defence Industries.

Interaction between the two industries has been mutually beneficial since it has enabled the defence sector to utilise a separate set of brains to find novel solutions to its engineering problems whilst granting Motorsport Valley® companies the opportunity to grow their businesses within less seasonally-variable revenue streams. The MIA's Motorsport to Defence initiative has seen motorsport-derived radiators, charge coolers, gearboxes, brakes, suspension components and seals provide real benefit to defence vehicles in the field.

Partners of the Motorsport to Defence Initiative are Alcon, a leading supplier of brake and clutch components to motorsport and OEM applications and Xtrac, the world's leading manufacturer of motorsport transmissions and drive trains.

Some Motorsport to Defence testimonials:

"The MIA Motorsport to Defence Programme has already delivered many new positive business opportunities for our Members in the defence sector. I am delighted that real business has been created."
Lord Astor of Hever DL
Shadow Defence Minister, House of Lords & Past MIA Honorary President

"On specific niche issues, we can get some really good wins from this. I am sure that if you look back in 18 months' time, MIA companies will have benefited. If they have benefited, then defence has benefited, as we will have cutting edge technology to solve problems that we would not have had otherwise."
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Wills
Protected Mobility Team, General Support Vehicles, Ministry of Defence

“Without the MIA organising this programme and so giving us the opportunity to meet with  key defence industry influencers, NAR Group may never have secured this work. The Defence Industry appear keen to work with the motorsport industry and genuinely value our innovative engineering ideas. Hopefully this first contract will have a snowball effect and encourage other major defence players to work with other motorsport industry companies."
Robert Goodwin
NAR Group

www.supacat.com

Supacat has been actively involved in the MIA's Motorsport to Defence Initiative and now uses several component parts engineered by MIA Members.

Defence Contracts Bulletin (DCB) Exclusive Members' Discount

MIA Members are entitled to a discount on the DCB Premier Package, and on Defence Contracts International (DCI).

Please click here to log into the Motorsport to Defence Members' Only Area.

Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE)

• The MIA reccommends that members keep an eye on the CDE events page and subscribe for Codex updates

Press coverage of the MIA Motorsport to Defence Initiative:

• LATEST Ministry of Defence - 12th July 2010: 'MOD and F1 motorsport race ahead to provide battlefield technology'
• LATEST BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat - 9th July 2010: 'F1 Technology could help British troops in Afghanistan'
• Easier.com - 22nd June 2010: 'New axles from Xtrac improve mobility of military vehicles'
• Telegraph.co.uk - 18th May 2010: 'Ocelot LPPV military vehicle review '
• Professional Engineering - 31st March 2010: 'Motorsport technology goes into combat zone'
• Sky News - 16th January 2010: 'Firms Race To Be Driving Force Behind MoD'
• Jane's Defence Weekly - 9th December 2009: 'Defence industry learns lessons from motorsport'
• Telegraph.co.uk - 29th November 2009: 'F1 expertise motors to the aid of Afghan war effort'
• Defence Management Journal - Issue 44, Spring 2009: 'A Sporting Chance'
• RUSI Defence Systems - June 2008: 'Accelerating Defence Acquisition'
• Defence Management Journal - Issue 40, February 2008: 'Resources in High Performance'
• Professional Engineering - 17th October 2007: 'Motorsport Technology Could Move Into Defence'
• Daily Telegraph - 1st October 2007: 'BAE Takes Driving Lessons'
• MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin (DCB) - Vol. 5 No. 11, 6th June 2007: 'Racing for the Finish'
• Defence Manufacturers Association (DMA) News - May 2007: 'A Joint DMA/MIA Networking Workshop'

Recent Motorsport to Defence Initiative Events:

• DVD 2009, Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire - 24-25th June 2009. Report; Photos
• MIA Members' visit to Supacat, Honiton, Devon - 15th July 2009. Photos
• DSEi (Defence Equipment & Systems International), ExCeL London - 8-11th September 2009.
• MIA meets A|D|S - Defence Industry Table-top Display and Networking Day at MIRA, Nuneaton- 26th November 2009. Photos

Upcoming MIA Motorsport to Defence Events:

• Click here to see the full list of recommended upcoming events

Defence News:

• Ricardo's new defence vehicle - Ocelot
• MIA Member Cranfield University to develop integrated vehicle health management (IVHM) system in partnership with Rolls-Royce, Thales and Boeing

For more information please contact Adam Pointer on +44 (0)2476 692600
or email adam.pointer@the-mia.com