Firm gears up for new Grand Prix

The first A1 Grand Prix race is at Brands Hatch in Kent

A south Derbyshire firm is preparing its engines for use in a new international Grand Prix series.

Zytek Engineering, based in Repton, is supplying 58 engines for the series which starts at Brands Hatch, Kent in late September.

The company said the contract will result in at least 10 new posts at its Derbyshire factory.

Testing on the engines took place in the south of France last week in the run up to the A1 Grand Prix.

'Huge boost'

John Manchester, Zytec managing director, said the worldwide exposure will be a huge boost for his company.

We have built engines for Formula 3000 for 10 years - so we have already built our reputation for racing engines John Manchester, Zytek Engineering

"We firmly believe that it's going to be up there with Formula One - no question.

"It's given us work for at least the next three years, so we're going to be well-known as an engine supplier and an engine manufacturer worldwide now as opposed to just being in Europe."

The A1 Grand Prix involves teams from around the world competing in identical cars built by Lola Cars International of the UK.

There will be 12 races in the first year of competition involving 25 countries, including China, Canada, Malaysia, the UK, Germany and the USA.

Zytec is supplying the engines and gear shifts after it was approached by the founder chairman Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al-Maktoum.

Mr Manchester said: "We have built engines for Formula 3000 for 10 years, so we have already built our reputation for racing engines.

"It is the largest single order for racing engines that Zytek has ever received and will generate additional business benefits in terms of manufacturing, assembly and support service as well as offering further employment opportunities."