After design spells at Lotus and BRM, culminating in the position of Chief Designer at the latter, Mike Pilbeam set up his own company and during the course of the next ten years designed and built cars that raced in Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, Formula Atlantic, Formula Ford 2000 and Formula Renault. Following this period, a new and productive collaboration with GM emerged. From this came Nova, Vectra, Cavalier and Calibra Rally cars, Astra and Cavalier Touring cars and a Calibra Thundersaloon. The high regard developed for the Vauxhall 2 litre touring car engine led to this being selected for the MP62 Hillclimb car. In recent years, Pilbeam have been responsible for the design and component manufacture of Honda Accord and Peugeot 406 Super Tourers, Vauxhall Vectra V6 SRi Challenge cars, and the Hyundai Coupe F2 Rally car. We also design and manufacture new suspension components to fit the Lotus Elise, Exige and 340R. As well as designing and building complete racing cars, we also perform sub-component manufacture for other manufacturers, such as Ford Motorsport. Advanced computerised design techniques are used to create and develop new racing and rally cars, but many years of experience is also used to ensure the best final result. Few companies can boast such a long and successful history in motor racing and in such a wide variety of projects. An exciting new chapter in the 35 year history of the company was opened when the MP84 Sports Racing Car made its competitive debut in Round 3 of the International Sports Racing Series (ISRS) at Spa Francorchamps in May of 1999. This state of the art SR2/LMP2 class sports car represented the marques' re-entry into mainstream circuit racing. MP84-02, the first production car, completed only 2 days before the event, won Round 5 of the ISRS at Donington, England on the 18th of July 1999. Since then, the MP84 won its class in the Sports Racing World Cup series in 2000. The European Le Mans Series (now the Le Mans Endurance Series) began in 2001 and Pilbeam has had success over many years with the MP84, and it's successors, the MP91 and now the MP93. With five appearances at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours to date, Pilbeam has established itself as a leading manufacturer. photo by Rick Wilson, copyright © www.sportandspeed.com More recently in 2008, the company launched the MP98 Virage VdeV, built to FIA CN regulations for the Speed UK series and the VdeV series. Impressing in its début season, the Virage scored a podium finish on only its third outing. With many Pilbeams still very much active and, of course, competitive on the hillclimb scene, the company history continues....