The motorsport craze goes back to NEC
It’s hard to think of another event that attracts as diverse a range of motorsport fans and car brands as Autosport International. Annual offerheld at the NEC, is one of the UK’s largest gatherings of people who love racing or are passionate about cars. Although perhaps not as big as it used to be, this year’s event still featured everything and everyone from the armed forces (that’s why) to an amazing Formula 1 driver and enough grandstands to empty even your deepest pockets in a matter of minutes.
Formula One remains a firm favourite
Perhaps the largest crowd of the day (apart from the Live Action Arena) was that which crowded around the main stage to see David Croft, the voice of Formula 1, give his thoughts on a thoroughly entertaining 2024 season and answer the big questions about 2025. .
He was later joined by Uli Biermann, who will drive for Haas this year. He talked about his career so far and his ambitions this year. While I made the most of the low traffic elsewhere for most of this, I came across it well in the snippets I heard, and it was certainly very popular with the audience.
Formula 1’s 75th anniversary celebration was a landmark event, with cars from almost every era in the sport’s history. It’s surrounded by some fantastic artwork, courtesy of Paul Oz, and the number and variety of cars on display rivals the Petersen Motor Museum in Los Angeles and the Formula 1 Show in London. Elsewhere, Williams displayed one of its cars.
Familiar faces at Autosport International 2025
There were a few other famous faces in attendance. YouTubers AdamC and Twin Engine Corsa were chatting and proudly showing off their cars, while other cars you may have seen online were also in attendance.
There was a Yorkshire car restoration with a wrecked Lamborghini Countach and an incredibly rare Mazda Cosmo, both of which sparked the interest of many attendees. There were also interviews with influencers throughout the day, offering insight into popular online personalities and even some advice for budding content creators.
A captivating display of leadership and engineering
The Live Action Arena is home to daring drivers and a wide variety of exotic machines. The show started with a selection of Autograss cars, which were bold to say the least, with the youngest driver being just 10 years old.
There was then a short presentation from Ollie Biermann, who discussed how he found out he had his dream job and his ambitions for 2025. The great drive then continued, with the crowd able to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of NASCAR, including getting rubber-stamped for those who happened to be trackside .
The highlight of the demonstration was undoubtedly the performers. Both the Monster Energy Drift Team and the Maximum Lock Team showed off some exciting car control and great teamwork, but Terry Grant was the star of the show in my eyes.
The world-famous acrobat puts on an amazing show. He set his Jaguar F-Type in a circular motion, before moving on to his trusty 1937 Ford Sedan. Grant then sent it sideways in a similar fashion, before hanging it up and admiring his handiwork. His nonchalant style added even more excitement, creating an unforgettable moment in the 2025 Autosport International Championship.
Major brands are present at the Autosport International Show 2025
Unfortunately, there was only one car manufacturer present at such a large car show. Oddly enough, this was Tesla. This isn’t the first event that would come to mind if I were in charge of Tesla sales and marketing, but it’s probably better that I wasn’t, as the booth received a lot of attention and a few people were walking around the Model 3 and Model Y that were on display.
German suspension company Bilstein had a spacious stand with plenty of equipment on display, and an eye-catching Audi R8. Milltek brought in several cars as well, showcasing a variety of cars that could get an audio upgrade.
The Cannon Run was in effect, with an expensive collection of cars, as did Adrenaline Collective who had a stunning Lancia Delta Integrale Evo, an imported Dodge Challenger and an Ariel Atom.
The GT-R Owners Club was also in effect, with plenty of modified cars and a rather rare Nissan Stagia.
Games for all ages
There were some serious bits of equipment designed for some serious fun on display at Autosport International 2025. Firstly, the RC track caught the attention of a lot of people and the tandem drifting that could be seen on it was very impressive, as were the rows upon rows of miniature cars, each one of which had With a unique body.
Crazy Carts has attracted a crowd made up largely of the younger generation due to its TikTok popularity. There was certainly no shortage of ways to spend money, with an endless supply of scale models, artwork, and more useful items, like tools and garage floors.
The most attractive way to drive with actual driving for the masses was the abundance of sims. The Williams eSports team had a large stand containing Formula 1 eSports specification settings. Most interestingly, racing@home He had two very expensive rigs. Both systems feature motion to add to the immersion, with a karting simulator costing around £8,000 (without wheel or pedals) and a full-sized machine costing £12,000, with another kit installed on it worth £8,000.
Overclockers and its sim racing brand, Nitro conceptsHe also had a great attitude. Featuring equipment from Moza Racing, there was something to suit all ages and budgets. I tried out the most expensive premium setup (for journalistic purposes only, I promise), which you’ll be able to read about in an upcoming article. Let’s just say it blew my Logitech G920 out of the water.
Final thoughts on Autosport International 2025
Maybe if you had gone to previous events, Show this year It may have been disappointing, with some untapped space and a distinct lack of car manufacturers and few major brands. However, if you, like me, walked into the event not knowing quite what to expect, it was a fantastic show, bringing together all types of motorsport fans.
Maybe that’s the best way to look at it. Everyone was clearly passionate about what they do and warmly welcomed visitors and questions. The Live Action Arena was probably the highlight of the event, which is a shame because it wasn’t included in the ticket price. Tickets aren’t cheap, with entry for an adult costing £38, and food and parking are as expensive as you’d expect.
Overall, though, I’d recommend it to anyone interested in cars and motorsport, whether you’re a casual Formula 1 fan, or spend a lot of time thinking about your next mod, as I can’t think of an event that offers a similar experience for the same price.