Welcome to the largest hub of motor racing on the planet: the Motorsport Valley®

Also referred to as Silicon Fen, Motorsport Valley® refers back to the cluster of companies based mostly round Oxfordshire and the Midlands concerned in supplying cutting-edge expertise to Formula One, Formula E and lots of different motorsport sectors. They dominate the design and manufacture of elements used within the majority of the world’s racing classes in the present day.

The valley can also be residence to a number of the world’s largest and most recognised racing groups. It’s inside the geography of this valley that science and expertise take the forefront in pioneering the following huge improvements in motorsports.

On this sequence of articles in regards to the Motorsport Valley®, we search to rejoice and supply firsthand perception into the professionals, corporations and information that make this location the top of motorsport, and hopefully encourage a brand new technology of motorsport professionals.

We at B-Hive Dwelling — a premium operator of co-living areas, serving the motorsport group regionally produced the sequence with the general ambition of creating finally a mini information that helps anybody occupied with dwelling and dealing in motorsport in Oxfordshire. At this version, we’ll give attention to giving a glimpse of the historical past and the most important corporations and groups based mostly on the valley.

Through the Second World conflict, the Thames Valley turned essential centre for aerospace engineering owing to its location which was superb for constructing and servicing plane. Submit the conflict most of the airfields and their engineers had been now not wanted. This focus of engineering expertise was simply transitioned into motorsport alongside the deserted airfields which proved to be the proper infrastructure for racetracks. These circumstances had been too superb to withstand, and the valley noticed motorsport corporations flocking down to determine themselves right here. The remainder as they are saying was historical past — and the Motorsport Valley® was born!

Do you know?

The identify Motorsport Valley has even been trademarked by the Motorsport Business Affiliation, the worldwide commerce affiliation for the motorsport business resulting from its distinctive qualities.

• Motorsport Valley has round 4,300 corporations that make use of round 41,000 folks; that’s a good-sized city in motorsport alone.
• Motorsport within the UK has a turnover of £9 billion (as of 2019), which has greater than doubled up to now twenty years.
• Practically 90% of the motorsport corporations within the UK export abroad and the vast majority of this financial exercise takes place within the Motorsport Valley®.
• Motorsport Valley corporations spend a colossal quantity on R&D at round 25–30% of turnover — that’s much more than the pharmaceutical business (which spends 15%).
• 15 totally different universities within the UK supply motorsport engineering as a particular course, and these universities are clustered round Motorsport Valley® (extra on that beneath).

“Irrespective of the place you reside in Oxfordshire, 7 out of the ten Formula 1 groups are inside an hour’s drive. The vast majority of Formula E groups in addition to many F2, F3, GT3 groups and their suppliers are based mostly right here too. In case you’re seeking to work within the motorsport sector, Oxfordshire is unquestionably one of the best space to take action!”

Mátyás Nagy– F1 Motorsport Engineer and former B-Hive Dwelling resident

Get a glimpse of a number of the main corporations and groups on the forefront of motorsports that are based mostly on the valley.

Mercedes– Brackley, Northamptonshire — Official Webpage

For Formula 1 followers, the identify Mercedes has develop into synonymous with victory. Mercedes has develop into one of the vital profitable groups in latest Formula One historical past, having achieved consecutive Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships from 2014 to 2018.

McLaren- Woking, Surrey — Official Webpage

The McLaren Formula 1 crew has been one of the vital profitable groups within the sport’s historical past. Because the crew’s inception in 1966, they’ve gained 182 races, 12 Drivers’ Championships and eight Constructors’ Championships.

Aston Martin Redbull Racing- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire — Official Webpage
Owned by beverage firm Red Bull GmbH, the favored advertising line related to the model — Red bull provides you wings- appears to have been put into observe on observe with the crew dominating race weekends and making their manner into a number of podium finishes.

Renault Sport — Enstone, Oxfordshire — Official Webpage
French auto automotive maker Renault is at present concerned in Formula One as a constructor, beneath the identify of Renault F1 Staff. They’ve been related to Formula One as each constructor and engine provider for varied intervals since 1977.

Do you know?

Renault was liable for introducing the primary turbo engine in Formula One with the Renault RS01 when the corporate turned a constructor in 1977

Williams Racing F1 — Grove, Oxfordshire — Official Webpage
Based in 1977, the crew has racked up a number of Grand Prix wins and championship glory. The crew has additionally nurtured a number of the best abilities within the sportincluding Nigel Mansell, Jenson Button, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna.

Racing level F1- Silverstone, Northamptonshire — Official Webpage

Having the crew’s base established a stone’s throw away from the legendary British racing circuit Silverstone, Racing Level F1 steadily established themselves as a midfield power beneath the Drive India identify from 2007.

Envision Virgin Racing- Silverstone, Northamptonshire — Official Webpage

Primarily based on prime actual property at Silverstone, the crew has been a energetic competitor within the ABB FIA Formula E Championship because it’s very inception. Virgin Racing turns into Envision Virgin Racing for the 2018/19 season after partnering with a digital vitality firm: Envision Group.

Panasonic Jaguar Racing- Whitley, Coventry — Official Webpage

Having joined the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in 2016, the Panasonic Jaguar Racing crew is able to head into its third season within the sequence with its new Gen2 Jaguar I-TYPE 3.

Do you know?

With 54kWh of usable vitality, the Gen2 Formula E battery might energy a mean British family for greater than 4 days!

NIO Formula E Staff– Oxford — Official Webpage

The NIO Formula E Staff is the racing arm of Chinese language automotive maker NIO, and the evolution of Staff China Racing. The crew secured the inaugural FIA Formula E Drivers’ Championship in 2015.

Automotive Firms & Suppliers Round Motorsport Valley

Catch sight of a number of the corporations and suppliers that make Motorsport Valley a hotbed for automotive innovation and expertise.

Aston Martin– Gaydon, Warwickshire Official Webpage

Based in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, Aston Martin is primarily related to the manufacturing of grand tourers and luxurious sports activities vehicles. Their vehicles are thought to be a British cultural icon.

BMW Mini– Cowley, Southeast Oxford Official Webpage

MINI is a British automotive marqueowned by BMW since 2000 and is liable for pioneering the Mini Cooper — one of the vital legendary small vehicles in automotive historical past. Their foremost plant is positioned proper outdoors Oxford.

Jaguar– Whitley, Coventry Official Webpage

Based in 1933 by William Lyons, Jaguar is an iconic British producer and the identify behind a few of historical past’s most legendary vehicles just like the Kind-E. Its operations had been fully merged with Land Rover to type the Jaguar Land Rover firm.

Bentley– Crewe, Cheshire Official Webpage

Bentley is a British producer and marketer of luxurious vehicles and SUVs, based in 1919 by W.O. Bentley and H.M. Bentley. The corporate claims to have one clear goal — to create extraordinary vehicles for extraordinary prospects.

Prodrive– Banbury, Oxfordshire Official Webpage

Prodrive is a widely known British motorsport group that designs, constructs and races vehicles for corporations and groups comparable to Aston Martin, Mini and Volkswagen. Prodrive first turned well-known for its involvement with the Subaru World Rally Staff, creating championship-winning vehicles for Colin McRae and Richard Burns.

In regards to the authors

B-Hive Dwelling is an operator of personal rental co-living properties re-defining shared dwelling for a brand new technology of entrepreneurs and professionals in Oxfordshire and internationally.

Past mere lodging, our properties supply a dynamic and life-enriching expertise by well-designed areas and a calendar of social and cultural actions to foster connection, increase creativity and allow a more healthy and extra fulfilling life-style.

If you’re seeking to be a part of a vibrant group of like-minded motorsport professionals and fanatics, please attain outon +44 (0) 333 577 1088 or data@b-hiveliving.com.