The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) has announced that the 2025 winner of its prestigious Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Motorsport Industry is Peter Digby.
Peter, Chairman of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), was former President of Xtrac and Chairman of the MIA. He was presented with the Award at the House of Lords, London, last night during the MIA’s annual Summer Reception.
This prestigious Award from the MIA — the world’s leading organisation for the motorsport and high-performance engineering industry — recognises outstanding personal contribution to this industry. Past winners include Toto Wolff, Ross Brawn OBE, Martin Brundle OBE, Adrian Newey OBE, and Sir Jackie Stewart. Throughout his career, Peter has made a lasting and positive impact on British motorsport and its global reputation.
Peter started his motorsport career in 1979 at Williams Racing, rising to become Production Manager. After a short spell at Haas Lola as Assistant Managing Director, in 1986, former Hewland engineer Mike Endean persuaded him to join the fledgling British transmission manufacturer Xtrac, which he went on to lead to success over the following decades.
Operating from its headquarters in Thatcham, Berkshire, Xtrac established facilities in the United States in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Mooresville, North Carolina and recently, Austria.
Xtrac recently dominated the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, suppling transmissions to 90% of the grid. They are now the exclusive transmission supplier to the NTT IndyCar Series, the NASCAR Cup Series, LMDh entries in IMSA, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), and the eWRX, the first all-electric off-road FIA World Championship.
Under Peter’s leadership, Xtrac’s increasingly global footprint and its focus on fostering young talent through many apprenticeship schemes has established the company as one of Motorsport Valley®’s greatest success stories.
Peter moved on to become Chairman of the BRDC, the operator and owner of Silverstone Circuit, home of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix. Peter led the team which negotiated a new ten-year deal with Formula One Management (FOM), securing the British Grand Prix’s future at Silverstone until at least 2034.
Peter was Chairman of the MIA for five years, nurturing the international trade body of motorsport and high-performance engineering from 2003 to 2008.
Peter Digby said: “Winning the MIA Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Motorsport Industry is a great event for me. I’ve been involved with the MIA for well over 30 years, I’ve been Chairman of the Association, and I’ve seen what it’s done for the industry. It’s an honour to be recognised by my peers, and I’m really excited by it! It’s been a great evening, and this was a total surprise. Being recognised in the industry that I love, and have worked in now for over 45 years, is just a great honour.”
Chris Aylett (Chief Executive Officer, MIA) said: “Peter deserves all the praise he gets for winning this MIA Award, voted on by our members. His well-informed knowledge, huge experience and determination to bring success to Xtrac never wavered. So many, working in motorsport today, have benefited from his advice, occasional criticism, and support!”
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