A Northamptonshire engine company that builds high-performance racing engines and is expanding into automotive, defence, marine and energy work.
Ilmor Engineering designs and builds high-performance engines. It became famous for IndyCar and Formula One engines, and has also made engines for NASCAR Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series teams, a MotoGP engine in 2007 and high-performance marine engines such as the MV10.
It was founded in 1983 by Mario Illien and Paul Morgan, who had both worked at Cosworth on the DFX engine, in partnership with Roger Penske. Its first IndyCar engine, the 265-A, debuted at the 1986 Indianapolis 500, and the engine family won 64 of 78 CART races between 1987 and 1991. Ilmor built Formula One engines for Leyton House, Tyrrell, Sauber and McLaren from 1991, and Mercedes-badged engines helped McLaren win titles in 1998 and 1999. Mercedes-Benz later took full ownership, and in 2005 Mario Illien and Roger Penske bought the special projects part of the company, which became independent again as Ilmor Engineering Ltd.
Its manufacturing site is at Brixworth, Northamptonshire, on a quiet industrial estate. The Engineer magazine puts Brixworth at the northern tip of Motorsport Valley, and says about 75 per cent of the world's top-level motorsport research and development companies are in that region. Wikipedia lists maintenance offices in Plymouth, Michigan.
Racing consultancy remains the core of the business, but Wikipedia says it is diversifying into OEM automotive, defence, marine and energy-efficient engine applications, and The Engineer says it is investing in design and manufacturing technology and moving into aerospace and defence. We did not find a published mission statement, headcount or a description of the internal culture, and the company keeps a low profile. Ilmor also describes itself on the Wikipedia page as a racing consultancy first, so its everyday work is designing and testing engines for customers rather than selling to the public. The Engineer describes the Brixworth site as quiet, with little outward sign of its significance, so it is easy to miss. Mercedes became the badging manufacturer for Ilmor's IndyCar engines in 1995, which shows how closely it worked with major car makers.
Engine businesses need design and simulation engineers, machinists, assemblers, dyno and test technicians, and project and supply-chain staff. For a student interested in engines and in how racing ideas reach other industries, Ilmor is a real example of a small UK specialist with a very large reputation.
Website: www.ilmor.com
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