Birmingham Backs Autosport International

21 June 2005

Autosport International is no ordinary exhibition. For the motorsport industry 12-15 January at the NEC, Birmingham, is where the season really starts. The exhibition, now in its 16th year fills an astonishing 11 halls of the NEC and brings income, not only to the region, but also to the exhibitors, especially on the two dedicated trade days (12/13 January).

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of Marketing Birmingham said: "We fully back Autosport International and have watched the show grow year on year. Now more than 90,000 visitors enjoy four days of this show, which equates to £18 million of income coming into our region. Equally important are the two trade days which attract more than 25,000 key buyers, 4,000 from overseas.

It is estimated that more than £400 million of business will be generated on the opening two days of the show and brings much needed orders to companies in the Midlands who are regarded as world leaders in engineering technology. The motorsport industry is worth some £5 billion to the UK economy, employing in the region of 40,000 highly skilled workers.

"We intend to work closely with Haymarket Exhibitions Ltd to ensure that Autosport International 2006 will be even bigger and continues to be regarded as one of the most significant motorsport shows in the world. We recognise that an exhibition of such a size needs the full backing of Marketing Birmingham and we hope we will be able to assist with real-time booking on-line with accommodation, flights and car hire and offer visitors to Autosport International exclusive discount vouchers to make their stay in Birmingham even more enjoyable. We are currently looking at various joint promotions between ourselves and Haymarket to guarantee that the show will attract another year of record visitors. Haymarket Exhibitions has identified the NEC as the right venue for a show of this calibre with ease of access and excellent facilities, for both International and national visitors."

The exhibition itself is a feat of logistical brilliance. The Live Action Arena, which occupies 24,870 square metres, seats 5,000 spectators for each of the 45-minute all-action indoor shows with 177 cars choreographed for racing and performing at each show over the weekend. This is the first hall to begin construction just three days before Autosport International opens its doors. Then the task begins to lay more than 70,000 square metres of carpet in different colours identifying the different areas of the exhibition. More than 30,000 metres of cabling is laid for electrics and lighting and over 1,500 display vehicles must be positioned.

Bernard Cottrell, Group Operations Manager for Haymarket Exhibitions, said: "I have been setting up this show since its inception 15 years ago and it just continues to grow every year. One of our biggest challenges to date was beaming a live satellite link from Barcelona into the NEC in January 2005, giving visitors the exclusive opportunity of seeing the BAR Honda 007 five hours before the rest of the world. Although it takes the team three to four days to build the show, it only takes one evening and one day to empty all 11 halls. When the visitors walk through the turnstiles at 9.00am on Thursday, every stand is completed, vacuumed and ready to be enjoyed."

Trade tickets cost £22 per day and includes the comprehensive Show Guide.

Avoid the queues and pre-register on line at www.autosport-international.com.

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