Le Forum Professional MotorSport réservé aux propriétaires de circuits, aux investisseurs et aux fournisseurs a une fois encore permis aux sociétés exploitantes de circuits de sports moteurs de se rencontrer et de discuter des défis auxquels elles sont confrontées, notamment des questions d'urbanisme et de conception de nouveaux sites de sports moteurs polyvalents, de la durabilité, de la génération de revenus, des revêtements de piste et de la maintenance. Mais aussi des nuisances sonores, de la sécurité des pistes, des responsabilités légales, des risques d'assurance, des nouvelles technologies et innovations ou encore de la collaboration avec les organisateurs de championnats. L’importance de la conférence a doublé par rapport à 2008, alors que les autres conférences connaissaient leur pire édition à ce jour. 165 participants issus de 27 pays d'Europe, d'Amérique du Nord, d'Amérique du Sud, du Moyen-Orient, d'Afrique et d'Australie ont pu profiter de deux journées d'exposés et de discussions, ainsi que d'excellentes opportunités de réseautage.
Des représentants de circuits de F1 renommés se sont joints aux circuits nationaux et régionaux établis de longue date ou plus récents, ainsi qu'à de nombreux autres circuits cherchant à s’agrandir ou en cours de construction. Certains sont à la recherche de nouvelles perspectives ou de nouveaux moyens de générer des revenus, ou d’améliorer leurs installations ou leur exploitation.
Gill Campbell - CEO/general manager Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca The Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – a case study in effective operation and promotion Gill is the CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway
Laguna Seca, a world-renowned facility that hosts five
major motorsport events, including The Festival of Speed,
The Red Bull US Grand Prix, the Rolex Monterey Historic
Automobile Races, the AMA Superbike Championship
and the Monterey Sports Car Championships. Gill is
on the board of directors for the Monterey Convention
and Visitors Bureau, served on the Monterey Peninsula
Chamber of Commerce board, is vice president of the
Road Racing Industry Council Board and is also on
the steering committee for the Le May America’s Car
Museum. In 2007 she was nominated as a Woman of
Distinction by the San Jose Business Journal, and was
named Promoter of the Year 2008 by the American Le
Mans Series.
Dr Walter Kafitz - president Circuits International AICP Working for ‘greener’ circuits worldwide Dr Walter Kafitz is president of the Association
Internationale des Circuits Permanents (AICP), the
worldwide governing body of permanent race circuits,
a position he has held since 2007. He studied business
administration at the University of Saarbrücken. A career
in various management positions led to roles as chief
executive officer at Contecta Agrob-Buchtal-Keramik
in 1993, and then at Nürburgring and its associated
companies, where he has worked since 1994.
Dr Karl-Josef Schmidt - managing director Hockenheimring How to make F1 circuits compete more fairly Modern standards of motorsport have created new challenges and greater requirements for race circuits. Additionally, environmental issues such as noise and alternative energies have become more and more important in recent years. While aiming for technical perfection, the circuits also need to consider the installations necessary for the comfort and safety of spectators and participants, and care for the environment.
Dr Walter Kafitz will set the scene for the conference by setting out the issues facing
motorsports circuits.
Alec Arho Havrén, founder, circuit architect and chief instructor Gotland Ring Gotland Ring – social and environmental entrepreneurship Alec has a background in the financial markets and
management. His key competencies have been proven
both as a consultant and as an entrepreneur. As the
founder and track architect of the unique environmentally
focused test and race track Gotland Ring, on the ecomunicipality
island of Gotland, Alec can provide an
interesting view of a project with dimensions not normally
seen within this particular field. Within motorsport, Alec has experienced many wins and pole positions on
various race circuits, including the legendary Nürburgring
Nordschleife, which has inspired his circuit profile design
at Gotland Ring.
Hubert Gramling - head of research FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety Is it possible to further improve the high-speed barrier? Hubert Gramling is head of research at the FIA Institute,
where he uses his engineering expertise to continually
improve safety in motorsport. Hubert helped develop the
Head and Neck Support (HANS) device and is working
on introducing alternative head restraints, in addition to
HANS. He continues his research on the advanced highspeed
barrier, and has been instrumental in designing
and testing an advanced racing seat for the World Rally
Championship and in developing ear accelerometers to
measure head acceleration during an accident. He helped
develop accident data recorders (ADR), which have been
hugely important for collecting data on impacts, which
can be used to determine necessary safety improvements.
Christopher Tate - series director Masters Historic Racing Serving the fast-growing historic racing market – a demanding but important customer for circuits Christopher brings over 30 years of experience in the
motorsport business to his role in running Masters. With
experience as a circuit builder and owner, as a former
competitor himself, a past director of race car designers
and builders, a US and European television commentator,
and as a driver manager, plus a 30-year love affair with
Le Mans, Christopher has a keen eye for what works in
motorsport. He is responsible for the series overall, its
commercial development and the circuits negotiations.
Ron Faller - research assistant professor Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, University of Nebraska-Lincoln The SAFER barrier – development, testing, in-service performance evaluation and applications Dr Faller has been responsible for the development
and testing of various roadside and motorsport safety
features including the SAFER barrier. He holds six patents,
including two for the SAFER barrier, and has published
over 47 refereed technical papers. He has received
the Transportation Research Board’s A2A04/AFB20
Committee Best Paper Award five times, and has received
numerous awards and recognitions, including several
for the SAFER barrier: 2004 Inaugural Pioneering and
Innovation Award, 2004 Pocono Raceway Bill France Sr.
Award, 2004 Herb Porter Indianapolis Memorial Motor
Speedway Award, 2003 NASCAR Bill France Jr. Award
of Excellence, 2003 R&D Top 100 Award, 2002 SEMA
Motorsports Engineering Award, 2002 Best of What’s
New Award and Top 100 Tech Innovations 2002, and the
36th Annual Louis Schwitzer Award.
Clive Bowen - managing director Apex Circuit Design Ltd Planning and Designing Motorsport Venues Clive Bowen is one of the world’s best-known race circuit
destination designers. As a graduate in Mechanical
Engineering with 24 years’ international experience of
design and build of civil/mechanical engineering projects,
he maintains direct links to the FIA/FIM/FOM/CIK to
develop high-quality designs and deliver cost-effective,
economical and environmentally sustainable racing
destination projects. Clive has had over 30 motorsport
design commissions on five continents including: Dubai
Autodrome (UAE), Bahrain International Kart Circuit
(Bahrain), Eastern Creek Raceway (Australia), Eurasia
Autodrome Domodedovo (Russia), Silverstone (UK),
Hampton Downs Circuit (New Zealand), Alabama
Motorsports Park (USA), the Abu Dhabi International Kart
Circuit (UAE) and, most recently, the Flins-Les Mureaux
French Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit in partnership with
Wilmotte et Associes (France).
Alan Wilson - principal Wilson Motorsport Inc Track paving in the real world – how to work with your local contractors Alan Wilson is a race facility designer and development
consultant, who has designed and built 28 race tracks
and consulted or designed several others that have
been proposed for development. He has extensive
experience gained at more than 175 race tracks in 16
countries over a period of 40 years. His innovative and
cost-effective designs, safety development programmes
and management skills, along with his creativity and
experience in developing events, race series, corporate
programmes and promotional opportunities, have
contributed to the success of many racing programmes
worldwide. He is experienced in European and North
American spheres of racing, and is one of very few
managers to have operated major international events for
World Championship Formula 1, World Superbike and
World Endurance Sports Cars, and for Indy Cars, ALMS,
Grand- American, NASCAR, IMSA GTP, SCCA Trans-Am
and for international motorcycle races.
John Rhodes - head of the motorsport team Populous Ltd Is it possible to design a sustainable circuit? John heads the Populous motorsport team. His recent
projects include the redevelopment of Silverstone, where
he is designing a new pit lane and paddock facility while
also redeveloping the wider context of the site; the
Iceland Moto Park, an FIA category 2 track, drag strip
and go-kart centre; and the Moscow Autodrome, a new
motorsport-based city master of 190ha, based around a
new circuit and recreational facility. These are in addition
to developing numerous local circuits and motorsport
venues.
Jarno Zaffelli - CEO Dromo - Applied Italian Circuit Design The business case for maximising the safety of your circuit Jarno is a mechanical engineer and has been working in
motorsport since 2000. He designed the new maximum
grade FIA-FIM permanent racetrack in the north of Italy,
Autodromo del Veneto Motorcity, and he is actively
involved in many circuit design projects and safety
research.
John Symes - technical director The Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association Limited Environmental issues in motorsport – the wider perspective John is a chartered mechanical engineer. Before joining
the MSA he was operations director for Brands Hatch
Leisure, responsible for the maintenance and safety of
Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park and Snetterton.
He has been a long-term member of both the MSA Race
Committee and the MSA Safety Committee, as well as,
for over 15 years, the FIA Circuits Commission. He has
also served on the FIA Equipment Approvals Group,
the FIA Safety Harness Working Group, the FIA Historic
Technical Working Group, the FIA Alternative Energies
Commission and the FIA Environmental Sustainable
Motorsport Commission.
Richard Milano - head of US operations Inis Motorsport Ltd How to Implement the FIA start light standards and electronic marshalling systems Modern standards of motorsport have created new challenges and greater requirements for race circuits. Additionally, environmental issues such as noise and alternative energies have become more and more important in recent years. While aiming for technical perfection, the circuits also need to consider the installations necessary for the comfort and safety of spectators and participants, and care for the environment.
Dr Walter Kafitz will set the scene for the conference by setting out the issues facing
motorsports circuits.
Andy Watson, MSc MIOA - senior partner Acoustic Consultancy Services Noise control measures to maximise circuit use Andrew has a significant list of accomplishments
and qualifications in the field of noise and acoustics;
he is also noise consultant to the Royal Automobile
Club Motor Sports Association (MSAUK), chairman
of the Environmental Advisory group of the MSAUK
and member of British Standards Committee EH/1/2
Transportation Noise. Currently Andrew’s consultancy is
involved with many environmental noise investigations
throughout the UK and Ireland, and has represented
clients in discussions with environmental health
departments and at public and planning inquiries.
Robert Cain - principal EMW Picton Howell LLP Racetrack fatalities – who is to blame? Robert specialises in advising businesses in the motorsport
industry, helping them get the best out of their
contractual arrangements with customers and suppliers.
His work spans the latest developments in energy
efficiency to international sponsorship agreements.
Alex Wright - group manager, technology development TRL Ltd Measurement technology for surface assessment and design Alex manages the Technology Development Group in
the Infrastructure Division of the Transport Research
Laboratory (TRL), where he leads projects developing
new technology for the assessment and management
of pavements and structures. The group has applied this
technology across the road, airfield, test track and race
circuit sectors. This has transformed the approach to
routine pavement assessment in the UK. Following the
rapid expansion of high-speed pavement assessment
methods on the public road network, Alex is a physicist,
receiving his PhD from Nottingham University in 1996.
Mike Wells - motorsport team leader and technical director Scott Wilson What is ‘value’? Contemplating sustainability and value engineering of a motorsport destination Mike is a civil engineer with nearly 35 years’ experience in
the design and construction of civil engineering projects
both in the UK and overseas. Mike currently heads the
Scott Wilson team that has been involved in a series of
motorsport projects, and is currently working on the new
French F1 circuit at Flins-sur-Seine - Les Mureaux near
Paris.
Guy Austin - partner Ridge & Partners How to control the costs of your circuit developments projects Guy is a partner with Ridge and Partners, a UK-based
professional property and construction consultancy where
he is head of project management. Guy was educated
in the UK, has a BSc Hons in Quantity Surveying and is a
member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. A
lifetime passion for motorsport has led Guy to complete
many construction projects in motorsport including seven
Formula 1 teams.
Stephan Cimbal - head of central marketing Nürburgring Nürburgring 2009: up and running – project update Before joining Nürburgring, Stephan was involved in
sports and entertainment sales and marketing at the HVG
Group. He has also worked in brand management at
Beck’s as well as in sales for Mercedes-Benz and Sixt.
Arno Bosch - founder and CEO AB Tribunes What is the real seating capacity at your venue? Arno Bosch is an active motorcross rider and promoter
of outdoor motorcross events. As a promoter he
understands the needs of circuits and he started his
own company to provide portable grandstands for
rent. Since 1977 AB Tribunes has concentrated on the
development, manufacture and sales of seating systems
and has supplied seats/roof structures to various venues
including Silverstone, Donington Park and Brands Hatch.
Arno manufactures and supplies seating systems to
rental providers in Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Germany,
Netherlands, Israel, Hong Kong and USA.
Ron Simons - director RSRNürburg How to open up the circuit for mainstream tourism and have the world as your customer As a team owner and driver, Ron was active in
professional racing from 1988 until 2002, winning several
championships in GT cars. Ron instructed for Porsche and
Ferrari throughout the 90s. In 1995 he founded RSRacing
BV, which specialises in suspension systems for track
day and sports cars. Ron still gives lectures on handling
dynamics for groups of drivers on racetracks all over the
world. He started the RSRNürburg racing school in 2002.
Ron is the author of the Petrolhead Planet Nürburgring,
a driver’s guide and a tourist guide for people visiting the
Nürburgring.
Andy Lürling - CEO iOpener Media GmbH How to make money from the digital exploitation of your motorsport circuit Andy started his career as a management consultant
in telecoms, IT and media. He had a commercial
management role at a mid-sized Dutch ICT company and
co-founded an award-winning cross-media company. In
2006 Andy founded iOpener, where he is able to combine
his passion for motorsport and gaming. Andy has won
the regional prize and was European runner-up in the
European Satellite Navigation Competition, won the Ernst
& Young Best Business Case Award and the Innovation
award of the Aachen region of Germany.
John Barrow - senior principal Populous Ltd How to maximise the brand potential of a motorsport venue, and create branding collateral John trained as an architect in Australia. As a senior
principal of Populous, he is involved in the planning and
design of major sports and leisure facilities. His Formula
1 interests led to the design and masterplanning of the
new Dubai Autodrome. He is currently working on the
new Silverstone masterplan. John headed the HOK Sport
team, masterplanning London’s winning 2012 Olympic
Games bid.
Jonathan Lux - London partner Ince & Co Liability issues for motorsport investors in regions new to motorsport Jonathan specialises in motorsport, maritime, energy,
marine insurance, international trade and international
commercial arbitration and litigation. He acts for, among
others, motorsport clients, oil industry and cargo interests,
and major insurers. He is also a practising arbitrator and
Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators. His experience as a
racing driver assists him in his motorsport practice.
James Tingay - group marketing manager Cirrus Research plc Implementing and managing a noise monitoring system at motorsport circuits After graduating with a BEng in Electroacoustics, James
joined Cirrus as a design engineer. He has been involved
in the design, manufacturing, sales and marketing
of the Cirrus noise measurement products including
the specification and management of the motorsport
noise product range. James is now providing support
to the newly established Cirrus Environmental Division,
a dedicated team focused on environmental and
motorsport noise applications.
Julian Thomas - managing director Racelogic Ltd How to increase revenue, re-bookings and marketing effort by using data-enhanced video Julian has a degree in Physics and Electronics from
Durham University. He started Racelogic in 1992 and the
company now employs 30 people and has a turnover in
excess of £4.7m. Racelogic supplies GPS-data loggers and
video systems to almost every automotive manufacturer
throughout the world.
Kelvin Austin - principal lighting engineer Abacus Lighting Ltd Floodlighting solutions for motorsport circuits Kelvin Austin heads a team of seven lighting engineers
undertaking over 250 lighting projects a month at sports
stadia, airports and large exterior working areas. Kelvin is
a chartered engineer and member of the Society of Light
and Lighting, Chartered Institution of Building Services
Engineers and the Institution of Lighting Engineers. He
has written many articles associated with exterior lighting
and regularly lectures on this subject area. He is the UK
technical representative on the international panel which
determines future standards for sports lighting.
Huub Vermeulen - chairman Dutch National Racing Team (DNRT) Foundation Regional circuits – the future of motorsport Huub Vermeulen is still racing at 64, and has been active
in motorsport for 44 years. He is the owner of a racing
school, chairman of DNRT Foundation, which organises 35
racing events a year, and a consultant for the construction
of new circuits and the exploitation of existing facilities,
especially for the lower half of motorsport. As a driver he
has seven national and international titles.
Chris Hobson - national chairman British Motorsports Marshals Club Don’t forget the marshals! Chris has been an active motorsport volunteer for over
40 years, officiating at all forms of events at venues in
the UK and abroad, from club level to international, from
autotests to Formula 1. He is a senior motorsports official
and examining post chief as well as an MSA steward.
Chris has been involved in many initiatives in the UK
to improve the training and grading of marshals, their
recruitment, retention, representation and safety. As
chairman of the BMMC, Chris has a passionate interest
in ensuring circuits and other venues ensure the safety
of competitors, officials and spectators, and that they
provide the right facilities and equipment to enable the
marshals to provide the services the venues’ customers
expect.
Jochen Braunwarth - head of international business development Geobrugg AG - Security Engineering Keeping the cars out of the grandstands Jochen Braunwarth is the head of international business
development at Geobrugg AG - Security Engineering.
He joined Geobrugg in 2008 from Züblin Spezialtiefbau
AG, where he was a project manager. Jochen served an
apprenticeship as a surveyor and studied civil engineering
at the University of Applied Sciences Biberach/Riss.
Professional Motorsport Circuit
Professional Motorsport World
Dr Karl-Josef Schmidt - managing director
Guy Austin - partner
