Autosport International

Autosport International
Name	Autosport International
Status	Active
Genre	Motor show
Frequency	Annual
Venue	National Exhibition Centre
Location	Birmingham
Country	England
First	1991
Organiser	Haymarket Exhibitions

Autosport International is an annual trade show and consumer motor sport exhibition held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. The event brings together teams, manufacturers, suppliers, governing bodies and fans from across motorsport series and categories, providing a marketplace linking Formula One, World Endurance Championship, FIA World Rally Championship, British Touring Car Championship and grassroots racing communities. Prominent stakeholders such as FIA, British Racing Drivers' Club, Motorsport UK and media organisations attend alongside manufacturers and independent engineering houses.

History

Founded in 1991 by the publishing house behind the Autosport (magazine), the event emerged during a period of expansion for international motorsport exhibitions alongside shows like the Geneva Motor Show and SEMA Show. Early editions capitalised on growing interest in Formula One teams such as McLaren, Williams Grand Prix Engineering and Ferrari making technical displays, while British motorsport institutions including British Touring Car Championship teams and Goodwood Festival of Speed alumni increased visibility. Over the 1990s and 2000s the show evolved under organisers like Haymarket Media Group and later Haymarket Exhibitions, adapting to regulatory changes from FIA and market shifts prompted by manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lotus Cars and McLaren Automotive. The 2010s saw expansions in trade halls reflecting the rise of specialist suppliers like Cosworth, Prodrive and Renault Sport Technologies; the 2020s included adjustments due to public health measures affecting large events such as those seen at Wembley Stadium and the ExCeL London complex.

Event Format and Features

The show combines trade-only days and public access, mirroring formats used at Paris Motor Show and Milan Motor Show. Exhibition halls host manufacturer stands from Porsche AG, Mercedes-AMG, Audi Sport and boutique constructors including Caterham Cars and BAC (Briggs Automotive Company), alongside technical suppliers like Mahle GmbH, Bosch and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. Conference programmes feature seminars with representatives from FIA, FIM, Motorsport UK and team principals from Red Bull Racing, Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd and Williams Racing. Retail zones showcase aftermarket firms such as OMP Racing, Sparco (company) and OMP, while a trade hall concentrates on engineering firms including Aero Tec Laboratories, Motec and composites specialists adjacent to motorsport educational institutions like Oxford Brookes University and Cranfield University.

Exhibitors and Attendees

Regular exhibitors include McLaren Applied Technologies, Cosworth, Xtrac, Sparco (company) and Pirelli (company), while teams from series such as British GT Championship, IndyCar Series and DTM have mounted displays. Attendees range from professional race engineers employed by Prodrive and Williams Grand Prix Engineering to amateur competitors affiliated with British Automobile Racing Club, Royal Automobile Club and historic racing groups like Historic Sports Car Club. Media outlets such as Autosport (magazine), Motorsport.com, BBC Sport and Sky Sports F1 cover the event alongside trade buyers from organisations like RAC and procurement staff from Aston Martin Lagonda Limited and Nissan Motor Corporation. International delegations from governing bodies including FIA and manufacturers' motorsport divisions such as Nismo attend for business development.

Demonstrations and On-Track Activities

On-site demonstrations and indoor simulators emulate activities seen at Goodwood Festival of Speed and provide functionality similar to Silverstone Circuit hospitality activations. Outdoor stages at the NEC complex have hosted live runs featuring historic cars from Bentley Motors and contemporary machinery from Formula E demo cars and World Rally Championship entrants like M-Sport. Driver appearances often include champions from Formula One and World Rally Championship such as former race winners and test drivers associated with Williams Racing and McLaren Racing. Technical workshops present pit stop demonstrations replicating practices from Indianapolis 500 and endurance events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Media Coverage and Awards

The event is widely covered by specialist press including Autosport (magazine), Motorsport.com, Top Gear (magazine) and broadcasters like BBC Sport and Sky Sports F1. Awards and launches announced at the show have included product awards given by industry juries and vehicle unveilings by companies such as Aston Martin, McLaren Automotive and Bentley Motors. Corporate and technical awards mirror recognitions used by FIA and national associations, and industry briefings often coincide with calendar announcements from series promoters including SRO Motorsports Group and Dorna Sports.

Economic and Cultural Impact

The exhibition contributes to regional business through links with the National Exhibition Centre (UK), hospitality providers around Birmingham, and logistics firms serving the United Kingdom motorsport supply chain. It supports employment pathways into engineering and motorsport careers associated with universities like Cranfield University and companies such as Cosworth. Culturally, the show reinforces Britain's role in motorsport heritage alongside institutions like the National Motor Museum and events such as the Goodwood Revival, while facilitating networking that influences team development in series including Formula One, World Endurance Championship and national championships.

Category:Motor shows in the United Kingdom