Immediate: 12 December 2002

Autosport International Exhibition

Birmingham NEC

9-12 January 2003

Ricardo stand number 6250

Ricardo – one of motorsport’s best kept engineering secrets and the tour de force behind many successful automotive projects – will return to Autosport International for only the second time ever to demonstrate to the industry some of its advanced technology and the company’s integrated engineering approach, which has been behind its success and growth in 2002.

The decision to exhibit again at the motorsport’s major annual exhibition underlines the company’s drive to continue to meet the needs of the industry in 2003. Commenting on the decision, Gerald Andrews, managing director, Ricardo Motorsport said: "There is an immense range of Ricardo services and skills, long recognised by the mainstream vehicle and powertrain manufacturers, which are increasingly being recognised by the motorsport community. Autosport International provides a good opportunity for Ricardo to show the motorsport industry that we can provide a one-stop shop offering complete engineering solutions at every level. We look forward to continuing our success story in the year ahead and developing our motorsport activities in a £4 billion industry in which we have a growing presence."

Established almost 90 years ago by Sir Harry Ricardo (1885-1974), one of the foremost pioneers of the internal combustion engine, the world’s leading independent provider of vehicle technology will be setting out its technical stand (number 6250 located centre stage in the main hall next to the Motorsport Industry Association MIA), under the banner of the ‘Ricardo Motorsport’ division. The division brings together the company’s world-leading skills in engine, transmission, vehicle and chassis design with its expertise in software, simulation and electronic systems providing the global motorsport industry with a one-stop shop offering an integrated motorsport service.

Notable Ricardo successes in 2002 include the design and manufacture of the innovative transmission used by the works Mitsubishi Pajero Evolutions in the final round of the FIA Cross Country World Cup. Underscoring Ricardo’s ‘right first time approach’, the new transmission was tested for only the first time in September, then competed at the UAE Desert Challenge in Dubai in early November, and helped the team race home to win a clear 42 minutes ahead of the nearest competitor. The programme now moves onto the 2003 Telefonica Dakar Rally, one of the harshest environments in world motorsport.

Visitors to the Ricardo stand will be able to see an example of the single seat Dallara racecar complete with the Ricardo designed and manufactured transmission. Ricardo supplied Dallara with 40 longitudinal transaxles in 2002 for the Spanish based Open Telefonica Formula Nissan series and the American based IRL, Infiniti Pro Series, in the company’s first venture into the supply of a cost competitive ‘formula’ transmission to one of the world’s leading motorsport chassis manufacturers. The deal provided individuals racing in these series the opportunity to experience a cutting-edge gearbox similar to those used at the very highest levels of motorsport.

Also on the stand will be the Ricardo Porsche GT3, a good example of Ricardo’s ability to provide total motorsport vehicle engineering solutions. From the chassis and suspension to the engine and transmission, the Porsche has enjoyed a 100 per cent Ricardo technological makeover and is due to take part in the American Le Mans Series in 2003. Ricardo is also developing vehicle enhancements for a number of GT3 teams.

Further underlining Ricardo’s commitment to the motorsport industry was the acquisition in 2002 of Gemini Transmissions Limited of Brackley. The acquisition has strengthened Ricardo’s high technology integrated offering to its customers and will help the company develop more rapidly its motorsport business.

Ricardo motorsport successes include transmissions that have been part of winning teams in many different classes, such as the triple-winning Audi R8 at Le Mans in 2000, 2001 and 2002, in addition to its dominant position in the American Le Mans Series throughout these seasons.

In Formula 1, Formula 3000 and Formula 3 Ricardo Software products play a significant role in the optimisation of engine performance, coolant flow and valvetrain dynamics. Ricardo also provided engine optimisation support to the championship winning team in this season’s Formula Nippon series in Japan.

In North American competition, Ricardo has provided engineering support to teams and suppliers in CART, IRL, and NASCAR in areas including engine development, control systems, and thermal management.

Overall, Ricardo is currently working on more than 500 engine, driveline and vehicle engineering projects globally. Ricardo Motorsport draws upon expertise from the company’s technical centres in the UK, Europe and North America including the Midlands Technical Centre in Leamington Spa, where Ricardo Driveline & Transmission Systems (RDTS) and Ricardo Vehicle Engineering (RVE) are based, and Ricardo Consulting Engineers based at Shoreham in Sussex, which is the company’s main technical centre for the development of high performance engines.

Note to editors:

Ricardo is a world-leading technology provider of research and design services for the automotive and motorsport industries. The company employs 1,400 people of whom 70 per cent are highly qualified multi-disciplined professional engineers and technicians. The public company reported a turnover last year of £140m and is a constituent of the FTSE techMark100 index.