Autosport International 2025: our visit to the NEC
We visited Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham on Thursday 9 January 2025, the first of its two trade days. The halls brought together Formula 1 machinery, club racers and modified road cars, with suppliers' stands between them. We came home with a phone full of photographs and plenty to look back through before the season.
Four days at the NEC
Autosport International ran from 9 to 12 January 2025. Thursday and Friday were trade days, with the public days following on Saturday and Sunday. Trade admission was for people working in motorsport or studying a related motorsport or engineering course.
For us, the trade visit gave time to talk to people on the stands, look closely at the cars and see what was new before the racing season. There is a different pace when you can stop at a display and work through the details.
- Thursday 9 January: the first trade day, when we visited.
- Friday 10 January: the second trade day.
- Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 January: public access.
The dates and admission split are recorded in AXS's information for the 2025 show.
A Williams display and historic single seaters
A dark blue Williams Formula 1 car sat on red carpet behind the ropes, with racing simulators lined up behind it. Nearby, historic single seaters included a Tissot-liveried car with a large rear wing and slick tyres. The contrast in proportions and bodywork made both displays worth stopping at.
GT cars, stock cars and modified road cars
The Taisan-coloured Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 was joined by a pink and black McLaren GT3 car from British GT. Elsewhere on the floor were a carbon prototype sports car, a Turbo Technics Ford Focus time attack car with its bonnet open, and a roof-winged stock car. Club racers and a small white sports racer shared the hall, while a blue Ford Escort on gold wheels represented rallying.
The modified road cars included a yellow Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, a purple Nissan GT-R and a purple R32 Skyline. The Cannon Run display added a row of supercars, including a blue McLaren and a matt grey Lamborghini. There was plenty of variety beyond the main race-car stands.
Bucket seats, harnesses and roll cages were familiar sights around the competition cars. Brake upgrades and coilovers are also part of the conversations these builds prompt in the showroom; the right choice depends on the car and its job.
Turning a show parts list into a plan
Garreth's advice is to send us the list before placing the orders. Start with the car, the events you plan to enter and the parts you already have. That gives us something concrete to check against the proposed kit.
Cameron will want the fitting details as well as the product name: a seat's mounting arrangement, your helmet measurement or the suit size you are comparing. A photograph of a finished race car rarely shows the brackets and clearances beneath it. Our guide to choosing a motorsport helmet is a useful starting point if a helmet is on your list.
For another show visit, wear comfortable shoes and plan a route through the halls you want to see. Check the organiser's dates and admission conditions for that edition, particularly before planning around a trade day.
Current race kit to compare
These current shop listings are useful starting points for a helmet or suit enquiry. The Bell GP3 Sport, OMP First Evo and OMP First Elle are shopping options, separate from the cars photographed at the 2025 show. Confirm the chosen size, version and event requirements before ordering.
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From £679.20 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadyTry in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £507.60 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £507.60 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Useful guides after the show
- OMP's First Evo and First Elle suits for 2025Compare the two cuts before choosing a size.
- Our January 2025 Bell GP3 Sport and GT5 Sport deliveryShowroom photographs and the differences between the two helmets.
- How to measure for a motorsport helmetPractical fitting advice from the current guide library.
Questions about our 2025 visit
When was Autosport International 2025?
The show ran from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 January 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham.
Which day did GSM Performance visit?
We visited on Thursday 9 January, the first trade day.
Could the public attend all four days?
Thursday and Friday were reserved for eligible trade and student visitors; Saturday and Sunday were the public days.
Was there a Formula 1 car on display?
A Williams Formula 1 car was displayed on red carpet, with racing simulators behind it and historic single seaters elsewhere in the hall.
Talk through your plans for the car
Send the parts you are considering, the car's details and how you intend to use it. We can help check the sizes, mounting arrangements and specifications before you commit to the combination.
