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Xtrac Limited, the world's leading motorsport transmissions specialist, has again signed up to exhibit at Autosport Engineering. The show, which next takes place on 8 to 11 January 2009 at the National Exhibitor Centre in Birmingham, has become a must for the industry's top companies who return, year after year, to benefit from its truly international attendance.
The announcement that Xtrac will again be at Autosport Engineering comes hot on the heels of yet another success for the company at the Le Mans 24-hours. Six of the top 10 finishers used its gearboxes including, for the third year running, the outright winner.
Xtrac development director Cliff Hawkins is in no doubt about the value of exhibiting at the show. He tells of a group of liveried visitors from a vehicle manufacturer walking past the Xtrac stand on the first day of Autosport International. A keen-eyed member of staff, noting their allegiance, invited them on. At this point Xtrac was not on their radar; certainly no visit to the booth was planned. However, the immediate result of this initiative was that the chief engineer was invited to visit Xtrac's Thatcham factory the following day. What followed was that, over the next few years, the company placed a multi-million pounds worth of orders for rally gearboxes. This was initially down to the chance encounter at the show. “We hadn't arranged anything,” recalls Hawkins.
This is just one example of many show success stories for Xtrac, the latest being an order to supply JL Racing Products with gearboxes

Next January's Autosport Engineering exhibition, held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, will reflect the global upsurge in fortunes that is being experienced at the highest echelons of motorsport.
The world's major races, such as Le Mans 24-hours and the Indianapolis 500, have shown signs of a resurgence in fortunes. The former was one of the best races at the famed French circuit for many years with two major vehicle manufacturers going head to head; the latter showed real benefit from the unification of the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car Series.
Both took place before greatly increased numbers of spectators. The air of optimism that now surrounds them is felt to be a contributing factor to an even greater overseas exhibitor interest in next year's show.
Autosport Engineering head of business development Tony Tobias reports that he is seeing a marked increase in the number of exhibitors from Europe and, in particular from Germany.

Mönchengladbach-headquartered Capricorn Group, which last year acquired the race engine parts manufacturers Perfect Bore and Chambon, is already booked to have the largest presence at the show, a 60 square metre stand.
Other leading European names, which have once again committed themselves to the event, include Pankl (drivetrain and engine systems), Mechachrome (engines), ZF Sachs (powertrain and suspension components), Magneti Marelli (electronics), Brembo (brakes), Eibach (springs) and Souriou (connectors).
In addition, despite the weakness of the dollar, Tobias observes that all of the regular North American exhibitors have pledged to return. Included are such industry-leading names as Tilton (drivetrain, starters and brakes), Hawk (brakes), Quarter Master (clutch), Xceldyne (valve and valve train) and Performance Friction (brakes).
“The number of bookings from abroad already appears highly promising,” said Tobias. “And it looks as if we will have broken records come next January.”