Airspeeder To Attract Leading Motorsport and Aerospace Talent

Mar 10 2021

News

Airpseeder, the world’s first racing series for electric flying racing cars, has significantly strengthened its global technical, engineering and sports rights leadership teams through key hires across all disciplines.

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In Summary

Airspeeder and Alauda boosted by injection of leading technical and commercial talent.
Additions to team drawn from F1® Management, Boeing, Jaguar Land Rover, Renault F1 McLaren, TWR and Williams Racing.
Judith Griggs, legal and commercial background spans more than 27 years in Formula 1®. will spearhead global rights acquisition and management and the shaping of Airspeeder as a sporting entity.
Brett Hill will lead a team of specialists across aerodynamic and structural analysis, flight controls and telemetry and production.
Matt Rodgers will lead all aspects of composite design for the craft’s monocoque structural chassis.
David Wareing will develop a systems-based approach to powertrain development supporting a multi-layer redundant architecture that will maximise performance.

The performance eVTOL engineering company Alauda, sister-company to Airspeeder, is the manufacturer of the vehicles that will race in the upcoming series. Both company’s operations now span a technical HQ in Adelaide, South Australia, their commercial and development base in the United Kingdom and a third commercial operation in New York, USA.

This significant injection of talent is drawn from companies including Boeing, Jaguar Land Rover, Renault F1, McLaren, Williams Racing and leading UK eVTOL manufacturer Vertical Airspace. This represents a commitment to blending the very best talent from both the aerospace industries and motorsports to create a new frontier sport.

Judith Griggs will spearhead global rights acquisition and management and the shaping of Airspeeder as a sporting entity. Her legal and commercial background spans more than 27 years in Formula 1®. Brett Hill leads the engineering programme for both the Mk3 and Mk4 Airspeeder craft. Hill joins from Boeing, where he led technical projects and engineering teams on the 747-8, 787 and various military programmes.

Matt Rodgers comes from eVTOL outfit Vertical Airspace as Head of Composites. He is the first key technical hire in the UK and will pioneer a commitment to establishing a much larger development hub in a globally recognised centre of excellence for elite motorsport and aerospace development. Rodgers brings with him senior technical motorsport leadership experience from Williams Racing, Renault F1 and Formula E.

Finally, David Wareing will bring a wealth of experience from hyper-performance and luxury automotive marques and through the development of racing technology at Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) and vehicle systems at McLaren.

"This injection of technical and commercial capability will play a pivotal role as we build towards historic first un-crewed races in 2021 and the world’s first crewed electric flying car GPs in the years to follow."

Matt Pearson Airspeeder, Founder and CEO

Judith Griggs – Global Rights Acquisition and Management Lead

Judith Griggs played a pivotal role in the commercial operation of Formula 1® for many years, including serving as CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation in Melbourne. That work established the race as a vital round for the sport and earned Judith the honour of Australian businesswoman of the year. This success built the foundations for her company, Sports Rights Management, a leader in sports and entertainment rights, media and technology.

Judith will apply her 27 years experience shaping the commerciality and global viewership of F1 to realise the global potential of electric flying car racing at Airspeeder. In addition to this, Judith will work with Founder Matt Pearson and London Based CCO Jack Withinshaw in building commercial relationships and negotiating with host nations, cities and brands in addition to those already established with DHL, money management leader,
EQUALS and cyber-security pioneer Acronis and their delivery partner Teknov8.

"The opportunity to help shape the world’s first racing series for flying electric cars is irresistible. Airspeeder has the potential to be the most progressive and exciting new entity in sport.”

Judith Griggs Airspeeder, Global Rights Acquisition and Management Lead

Brett Hill – Project Manager

Since joining, Brett has brought his meticulous approach, essential for cutting-edge engineering to the technical development of the Mk3 and Mk4 electric programmes. With his extensive aerospace experience acquired from senior roles at Boeing, including involvement in military testing programmes, aerodynamic analysis, and structural analysis of advanced composite structures, Brett possesses valuable transferable expertise.

Leading a highly skilled team of specialists in areas such as aerodynamic and structural analysis, flight controls and telemetry, and production, Brett has already made a significant impact. As preparations for the next phase of development and the inaugural remotely-piloted races in 2021 are underway, his leadership is keenly felt.

"It’s impossible not to be enticed by the technical challenge that comes with taking frontier technology and exploring the limits of performance."

Brett Hill Airspeeder, Project Manager

Matt Rodgers – Head of Composites

At Airspeeder Matt will lead all aspects of composite design for the craft’s monocoque structural chassis. He will apply a methodology developed during his time in senior roles at Williams Racing and Vertical Aerospace. This will include building a global network of cutting-edge manufacturing partners and building a team of highly skilled technicians as part of the establishment of a UK manufacturing footprint.

At its heart, Airspeeder is a clean-air sport with a purpose to accelerate a mobility revolution that responds to the global need for a more sustainable future. Matt will therefore take a lead in exploring natural fibre alternatives to further reduce resource consumption.

“Britain is the global home of motorsport and I’m very proud to be the first in extending this legacy to an entirely new form of sport and mobility."

Matt Rodgers Airspeeder, Head of Composites

David Wareing – Systems Engineer

At Airspeeder, David has drawn from his experience at McLaren and Jaguar Land Rover to develop a systems-based approach to powertrain development. This approach supports a multi-layer redundant architecture that maximises performance and availability through the efficient deployment of power supplies, controls and propulsion systems. His extensive experience from racing and performance car engineering brings significant knowhow in using modelling and simulation work to achieve technical objectives of delivery high-performance with safety.

“This is a chance to join some of the most talented minds in their respective fields to genuinely accelerate development of the next great mobility revolution.”

David Wareing Airspeeder, Systems Engineer

airspeeder.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/airspeeder