Autosport International 2013

Autosport International 2013 Photos and Stories.

Autosport International 2013 and TRADE DAY, Motor-sport, Autoracing products, display, and Symposium, 2013-01-10 - 2013-01-13, NEC, Birmingham, UK

Photos and story provided by Tim Surman Contact Photographer for Information.

Autosport International 2013

Each year the motor-sport world heads to Birmingham UK for the Autosport International Show. After the winter break its a chance for all connected with motor-sport to meet up under one roof, meet new people and old friends, see the latest gear, announce a new deal and maybe get a new deal signed. One of these announcements was the launch of the new F4 formula, which has the backing of the BRDC, on the MSV stand Jonathan Palmer and BRDC president Derek Warwick unveiled the car and talked about the figures and costs of the new formula.

The winner of this years McLaren Autosport Award announced as Jake Dennis.

The ever popular BTCC had a stand of its own, with some cars from the 2012 season, fans can get up close to the cars and really have a good look around them, no tape to keep you out and away. BTCC fan favourites like Jason Plato, Matt Neil, 2012 champion Gordon Shedden and WTCC champion Rob Huff were on the Autosport stage too. For touring car fans of yesteryear, when the racing involved less pushing a shoving and more sideways action, the HSCC had cars on display from this year calendar.

As always the Autosport International Show did the job for all motor-sport fans and automotive nuts, they must be well and truly warmed up, ready for the years action on track and road.
Tim Surman, 2013

PROLOG
The first two days of the Autosport International are trade days, open just to the industry and press.

Many drivers use the event to find sponsorship, meeting the right people all in one place. Company's which supply parts and services to race car manufactures are at the event too, marketing the latest information ready for the start of the racing calendar.

This year, Sir Jackie Stewart, three-time Formula One World Champion, will headline the celebrity line-up at the annual motorsport show.

Sir Jackie will be appearing both public days, 12-13 January to share his memories of his illustrious career and talk about the work of the Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust. A selection of his F1 World Championship winning cars including his race-winning Stewart Ford from his second F1 career as an Formula One Team owner and constructor will be available for viewing.

Coys will bring a range of exotic classic cars to Autosport International to promote their annual car auction which starts 12 January 2013.

Dunlop! Always a supporter of racing

The highly recognizable Martini racing stripes show up on a wide selection of racing cars

The only thing between the highly engineered race car suspension and the track surface are the "Tires"

Open wheeled formula racing is one of the highest test of drivers skill

Vintage race cars are a great draw and still raced

Richard Burns, World Rally legend received a tribute with a seven-car line-up including the factory Subaru Impreza WRC-X20 SRT used by Burns in 2001 to become the second British driver to win the World Rally Championship. Also on the floor, the Impreza WRC-W25 SRT taken to victory at Rally GB in 2000, and the Legacy models from Burns title-winning 1992 Group N National and 1993 Group A British seasons, with the latter described by Burns as his favorite rally car.

Sir Jackie Stewart F1 champion and safety advocate

The weekend saw the doors open to the public and the celebrity talkers on the Autosport and F1 stages. These included the three times F1 champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, his F1 championship cars had their own display and included the Stewart Ford F1 car. Included were some of the cars from the other formulas that drivers of that time raced in. Unlike modern F1 drivers, Sir Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Jim Clarke and others raced in multiple cars from many formulas

Jackie Stewart driving the F1 Tyrrell-Ford was the top of the game

Two stands that seem to share colours but are world apart, Caterham and Classic Team Lotus. Caterham showed everything from a Super 7 to their F1 and Classic Team Lotus?

Colin Chapman showed the world with his Lotus how to build fast and light F1 cars that would go up against the more powerful Ferraris and win

Another F1 team was McLaren, a stand and shop, from the latest Jenson hats and T-shirts to signing up for McLaren club membership and your photo taken with the 2012 F1 car.

The show is a utopia for any petrol head after the winter. Where as for the trades and teams its a way to meet up, for the fans its a chance to get excited about the year ahead and to get closer than ever to the cars and stars.

Porsche Cup Teams are soldiering on with the rear engined 911/991 cars for 2013 but expect a major change in competitiveness for 2014

Emanuele Pirro and Derek Bell

Lotus came home with many championships in its early years

Well how about a JPS liveried Renault Turbo power F1 car, with the upper body work removed and suspended above, originally driven by Nigel Mansell.

Nigel Mansell another extraordinary driver

Rob Huff

Some drivers 'wore' their tartans in their cars

For those that really wanted to splash some cash, the Coys Autosport auction. Being the a motor-sport show the cars tended to be race focused, they included the 1956 MG Magnette ZA called Bumble. The car raced at last years Goodwood Revival in the St. Mary`s Trophy.

Not all cars up for auction had a racing history, some had a different kind of star driver. Freddie Mercury`s 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was a star of its own on the day, a list price of £9,000-£11,000 but the hammer fell at £74,000.

A Golf sponsored Porsche 911 rally car

Rally cars are equipped with many extra lights. Note the lower set turned to the outside

The lovely Alfa Romeo Disco Volante

AC Cobra

This car dates back to times before the Fiat Works started to make "small" cars

"Light-Weight Quick release race design petrol cap

Before the Lamborghini 350 GT there were these

The Live Action Arena was the normal mad high octane mix of lights, noise and burning rubber. Drift cars did a sideways dance around the arena, with masses of tyre smoke, engine noise and flaming exhausts, Shane Lynch of pop band Boyzone fame was one of the drivers and stopped and waved to the crowds.

Terry Grant and two female drivers did a James Bond inspired stunt show. The only quieter moments was the Autocar best of British, although most of the cars may have been built in Britain, the owners of the company's are not!

Artist Ian Cook certainly has a lot of talent ...

But you may think twice before inviting him over to your home so he can show you what it is he does

Artist Ian Cook's Subject