The visit provided the Minister with an excellent insight into the workings of MIRA's automotive development centre and VCA's type approval operation. During the visit, the Minister met some of the key personnel who are normally busy developing and certifying tomorrow's vehicles, on behalf of the major car manufacturers.



Throughout the visit, the Minister showed great interest in a number of high-tech facilities used to make vehicles safer, refined and more environmentally friendly, culminating in the tour of MIRA latest multi-million pound investment - the UK's only large Climatic Wind Tunnel.

Before leaving, Mr Jamieson was driven around a selection of MIRA's 57 miles of test track, including the banked high-speed circuit and the specialised surfaces of the wet grip circuit.

The Transport Minister, concluded: "The innovative ideas I have seen today will soon be in everyday use and that is very exciting. It is clear that car development and manufacturing is being taken to a new level and it is great to see British companies in a leading role."