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British sports car makers show world class excellence at Autosport

By MJP Media | 8 January 2015

In this special feature, we take a look at the Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham and see the British motorsport engineering which is second to none in a highly competitive industry.

Lawrence Tomlinson with the LMP track car development

As most people in the motorsport world are aware, the majority of the Formula 1 teams are based in the UK and engineering levels and developments here are the best in the world. This year's Autosport International shows just how good they are across all areas of motorsport.

Not only are we already at the top of the tree, a new £10 million motorsport engineering facility at the University of Bolton is setting tongues wagging as it seeks to produce the next generation of engineers and designers. The project is championed by Ginetta's chairman Lawrence Tomlinson who was on hand to proudly show off the current LMP3 track car development which is attracting enormous interest worldwide. Why LMP3, you may ask? It was only recently that the ACO - the Le Mans organisers - announced a new class aimed at young and gentlemen drivers around a strict set of regulations, as a sort of stepping stone into the prototype ranks of LMP2 and the big guns in LMP1.

The new Radical RXC Spyder unveiled at Autosport

There is a cost cap in LMP3 too, in terms of parts, support and personnel, so it's the perfect formula to hone enduro-racing skills. The big plan is for Tomlinson to make a return to La Sarthe. "Le Mans holds a special place in my heart," he says, "and it is with great pleasure I can achieve my goal of taking the Ginetta into ELMS and ALMS, with a broader plan of competing in a Ginetta at the Le Mans 24hrs."

Another big name in world sports cars is Peterborough based Radical who launched their awesome Radical RXC Spyder. The RXC Spyder is Radical's new flagship racing car offering an experience closer to LMP competition than ever before - at a price and running cost far below the competition. Using the latest generation technology shared with the RXC V8 coupe including a new seven-speed paddle-shift gearbox and variable-assistance power steering, the RXC Spyder enjoys larger dimensions than the current SR8 RX, allowing for a bigger and more generously-appointed cockpit than any previous open Radical and with a greater range of driving aids and benefits than previously available.

Dunlop have a proven track record in world motorsport

The RXS is a truly astounding piece of machinery and just a quick look at its specifications is truly mouth-watering. With 440 bhp and a weight starting at 860 Kg, this gives an amazing power to weight ratio of 558 bhp/tonne which guarantees awesome performance. Radical were at pains to point out the great technical help and support that they get from Dunlop tyres, sponsors of the BTCC and Quaife gearboxes, both of whom provide the means for the Radical to put that power down on the track.

These stunning cars and many others from the UK automotive industry are on display this weekend at Birmingham's NEC, so why not come along and support the British motorsport industry.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media