Our Visit To Autosport International 2025 At The NEC
Show report, January 2025
On Thursday 9 January the GSM Performance team went to Autosport International 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham. It is the show that opens the UK motorsport year, and we went on the first of the two trade days, before the public days on the Saturday and Sunday.
We came back with a phone full of photographs. Here are some of the cars we saw, and a few thoughts on what the show is like if you are planning to go next year.
- Autosport International 2025 ran from 9 to 12 January at the NEC, Birmingham
- Thursday 9 and Friday 10 January were trade days
- Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 January were open to the public
- We visited on Thursday 9 January, the first trade day
- Cars on show ranged from a Williams F1 car to stock cars and tuned road cars
What is on this page
What Autosport International is
Autosport International is the big pre-season motorsport show in the UK. In 2025 it ran from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 January at the NEC. The first two days are for the trade: teams, suppliers, engineers and shops like ours. The weekend is open to the public.
The trade days are quieter and more useful for us. There is time to talk to the people on the stands, look closely at how cars are built and see what is new before the season starts.
Formula 1 and historic single seaters. A Williams F1 car in its dark blue livery sat on red carpet behind the ropes, with a row of racing simulators just behind it.
Nearby was a display of historic single seaters, including a car in Tissot colours with a huge rear wing and slick tyres. Seeing the old and the new in the same hall shows just how far the cars have moved on.
Race cars on the floor
A Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 in black and red Taisan colours sat near a pink and black McLaren GT3 car from British GT. There was a carbon prototype sports car on red carpet among the trade stands, a Ford Focus time attack car from Turbo Technics with its bonnet up, and a stock car with a roof wing parked next to club racers and a small white sports racer.
Rally was represented too, with a blue Ford Escort rally car on gold wheels.
Tuned road cars. Alongside the race cars was a big display of modified road cars: a yellow Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, a purple Nissan GT-R, a purple R32 Skyline, and a row of supercars from The Cannon Run including a blue McLaren and a matt grey Lamborghini.
A lot of these cars run the same parts we sell: bucket seats, harnesses and roll cages on the race cars, big brake kits and coilovers on the road cars. It is good to see them fitted and working.
If you are going next year
The NEC halls are big, so wear comfortable shoes and plan a route around the halls you want to see. If you want to talk to suppliers properly, a trade day is quieter; the weekend is when the public come and the halls are at their busiest.
Garreth’s advice for anyone who comes home from the show with a list of parts is to send it to us before buying anything. We can check approvals, sizes and whether a part suits your car. If safety kit is on your list, our guide to choosing a motorsport helmet is a good place to start.
When was Autosport International 2025?
It ran from 9 to 12 January 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham.
Which days of Autosport International 2025 were for the trade?
Thursday 9 and Friday 10 January were trade days, and Saturday and Sunday were open to the public.
When did GSM Performance visit Autosport International 2025?
We visited on Thursday 9 January, the first trade day.
Was there a Formula 1 car at Autosport International 2025?
Yes. A Williams F1 car was on display, along with historic single seaters.
From a Williams F1 car to club stock cars, the trade day is the best time to look closely.
Tell us what you saw at the show and we will check approvals, sizes and what it fits before you order.
