Vimi Fasteners at the London Workshop, Motorsport section of ANFIA “Technological transfer from motorsport to the automotive sector: active and passive safety and weight reduction”
On the morning of March 28th, a workshop titled “Technological transfer from motorsport to the automotive sector: active and passive safety and weight reduction” took place in London at the London Museum of Design. The workshop was organized by the Motorsport section of ANFIA and ICE-Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with SMMT (the English Automotive Association) and MIA (the English Motorsport Industry Association).
The event aimed to connect the Italian automotive sector with the motorsport sector in the United Kingdom, providing companies from both countries an opportunity to discuss these themes. This was the second workshop of its kind organized by ANFIA and ICE at the Design Museum in London, following the one in December dedicated to Italian car design and industrial design.
The opening remarks were given by Roberto Luongo, Director of ICE-London, who thanked the museum for hosting the workshop, and ANFIA and ICE for the organization, with acknowledgment of the support from MIA. Subsequent greetings were extended by the Italian Ambassador to London, Raffaele Trombetta, emphasizing the close ties between Italy and the UK and the importance of the automotive industry in Italy. The Director of the London Museum of Design, Deyan Sudjic, also offered his greetings.
Gianmarco Giorda, Director of ANFIA, provided an overview of the automotive industry in Italy, highlighting its significance in terms of employment, turnover, and exports. He expressed ANFIA’s intention, through the newly established Motorsport section, to promote and give greater visibility, both in Italy and abroad, to the specialized skills and innovative technologies of this excellence sector, second in Europe only to the English motorsport sector.
The event also marked the initial steps of a strategic plan to support Italian companies in collecting data to understand the evolution of the sector and studying the technical regulations affecting their activities. Another upcoming event featuring Italian motorsport companies is the 2018 edition of Formula SAE Italy & Formula Electric Italy, an international competition for engineering students organized by ANFIA at the Riccardo Paletti circuit in Varano de’ Melegari from July 11 to 15.
Chris Aylett, Chief Executive of MIA, spoke about the global scope of the Motorsport industry, emphasizing its leadership in technology and employment and its significant role in the entertainment sector. He highlighted the strength of the motorsport industry in the UK, comparing the British “Motorsport Valley” to the Italian “Motor Valley.”
A roundtable discussion moderated by journalist Richard Charlesworth followed, with participants including representatives from Brembo, Bentley Motors, McLaren Automotive, Vimi Fasteners, Duerre Tubi Style, Sabelt, Lotus Cars, and CSI. The discussion delved into the adaptation of component design from track use to road use. While lightweight materials used in racing components are often durable enough for road vehicles, there was a consensus that the limited durability requirements in races often make a direct transfer of these components unfeasible.
An interesting point of discussion was the flow of automotive technologies transferring from the road to the track, such as ABS systems and tire pressure monitoring systems. Participants unanimously agreed that the desire of luxury car buyers to personalize their vehicles allows automobile manufacturers and component suppliers in this market segment to offer customized design services not available for the mass market.
Another key topic of discussion was the increasing use of electric vehicles, both on the road and on the track, presenting various challenges for companies, especially since electric vehicles, particularly racing cars, are actually heavier than their traditional counterparts.
The subsequent networking cocktail provided Italian companies, who were speakers, with the opportunity to directly engage with the audience, especially representatives from manufacturers and component suppliers based in the UK.
