Name

Advanced Engine Research

Legal name

Advanced Engine Research Ltd.

Website

https://aerltd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Advanced Engine Research is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance racing engines for professional motorsport teams and spec racing series. It supplies bespoke and exclusive engines across Indy Lights, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and FIA World Endurance Championship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motorsport Engine Manufacturing

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (33631)

SIC

Engines & Turbines (3510), Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Engine Components & Subsystems Manufacturing (Blocks/Heads/Valvetrain/Pistons) (IMACAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aftermarket Performance & Tuning Products Manufacturing (Intakes/Turbos/ECU Tuners/Superchargers) (IMACANAN)

Keywords

• Racing engine manufacturing
• Motorsport engine design
• High performance engines
• Engine development services
• Motorsport engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Basildon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engine Supply to Racing Teams: AER designs, manufactures and supplies bespoke high-performance racing engines to professional racing teams. Revenue is generated through engine sales, development fees, and ongoing technical support contracts with teams competing in series like IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship, and Indy Lights.
2. Exclusive Series Engine Supply: AER holds exclusive engine supply contracts with spec racing series like Indy Lights, where they supply engines to all series entrants. This provides recurring revenue through standardized engine packages for the entire grid.
3. Race Track Technical Support: AER provides at-track technical support services at races worldwide, including engine installation, engine checks, at-track electronic programming and immediate problem-solving. This trackside support is a key component of their customer service and ongoing client relationships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Advanced Engine Research designs, manufactures and supplies bespoke high-performance racing engines (Projects 57, 60B, 63, 65, 91B/MZ-2.0T) to professional motorsport teams and spec racing series. The company delivers end-to-end engine programs covering design, simulation, precision manufacturing, testing, assembly and at-track support, with integrated engine electronics developed through sister company Life Racing.

Product overview

Advanced Engine Research is a designer and manufacturer of high-performance racing engines offering a portfolio of bespoke engine solutions for motorsport applications. The company provides multiple engine platforms (P91B for DPi, P63 for Indy Lights, P60B and P65 for LMP1, P57 for GP3) supplemented by engineering services including design and analysis (CATIA V5, FEA), performance simulation (GT-Power, CFD), precision manufacturing, engine testing and development, assembly, and race track support. The company also offers integrated electronics through its sister company Life Racing covering ECU, sensors, and control systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project 91B (MZ-2.0T) Engine State-of-the-art bespoke inline-4 single turbo racing engine featuring gear-driven valve train, barrel throttle drive-by-wire and advanced GDI combustion system. Max Power 600 BHP+ and Max Torque 600 Nm+. Based on a design originally developed for a Formula 1 manufacturer. Powers Mazda Team Joest in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship DPi class.
• Project 63 / Mazda MZR-R Indy Lights Engine Exclusive engine for the Indy Lights single-seater racing series. Inline-4 single turbo design producing 450 BHP+ and 500 Nm, weighing under 105 kg, with push-to-pass capability adding a further 50 BHP. Designed to run a full season without rebuild.
• Project 60B V6 Twin-Turbo Engine V6 twin-turbo engine designed specifically for the fuel-flow-limited ACO FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1 class. All-aluminium construction with gear-driven valve train, barrel throttle drive-by-wire and advanced GDI combustion system. Can be a fully stressed member of the chassis.
• Project 65 V8 Twin-Turbo Engine High-technology V8 twin-turbo racing engine that can be a fully stressed member of the chassis in both LMP1 sports-car installations and single-seater applications. Features gear-driven valve train, barrel throttle drive-by-wire and advanced electronic control, delivering over 800 BHP and 800 Nm+ torque in a compact, low-weight package.
• Project 57 GP3 V6 Engine 3.4-litre naturally aspirated V6 engine built and serviced exclusively for the GP3 series. Features fly-by-wire throttle control and all-aluminium, fully stressed construction designed for lightness and to operate a full season without servicing. Produces 400 BHP and 400 Nm at under 135 kg.
• Precision Manufacturing Service In-house precision manufacturing service for engine components, using advanced CNC equipment including a Nakamura AS200 lathe with live tooling and a Quasar UX600 5-axis machining centre, with thorough component inspection.
• Design & Analysis Service Engineering design and analysis service using CATIA V5 CAD software for part production, packaging and chassis integration, supplemented by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for component stress prediction.
• Performance & Simulation Service Performance development service using 1D and 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling, including GT-Power engine cycle simulation and Converge CFD combustion modelling.
• Engine Testing & Development Service Engine testing and development service covering component test rig assessment, single-cylinder rigs, dynamometer run-in and testing, plus engine indicating analysis with high/low pressure measurements and thermodynamic combustion analysis.
• Engine Assembly Service Engine assembly service staffed by engine builders with experience across Formula 1, GP3, American Le Mans Series, Le Mans, European Le Mans Series, World Rally Championship and GP Motorcycles.
• Race Track Support Service On-location technical support at race events worldwide, including engine installation, engine checks, at-track electronic programming and immediate problem-solving.
• Integrated Engine Electronics (Life Racing) Integrated engine electronics developed in conjunction with in-house sister company Life Racing, covering ECU, Power Distribution Units, sensors, gearshift systems, wiring harnesses, paddle-shift systems, drive-by-wire, intelligent power distribution and high-reliability electronic fusing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43 championships since 1999 including 2 class wins at Le Mans, 2 at Daytona, 3 at Sebring, 4 at Petit Le Mans
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Multimatic MotorsportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Multimatic Motorsports partnered with Mazda and AER to support the Mazda RT24-P DPi program. Multimatic provides chassis and race support while AER provides engines. Together they achieved victories including 2021 Watkins Glen 6-hour win.
• Ginetta / Team LNTsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019AER powers Team LNT's Ginetta G60-AER LT-P1 cars in FIA WEC. AER engines enabled Ginetta cars to dominate early portions of races and set fastest race laps, including Charlie Robertson's lap at Shanghai WEC (1:48.428) which was 1.3 seconds quicker than all competition.
• Mazda Motorsport / Mazda Team JoestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018AER designs, manufactures and supports the Mazda MZ-2.0T engine powering Mazda RT24-P DPi cars in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The partnership has achieved multiple victories including 2021 Watkins Glen 6-hour, 2020 Rolex 24 Daytona 2nd place, and multiple pole positions. Oliver Jarvis set Daytona road-course record (1:33.685) in 2019 qualifying.
• SMP RacingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018AER powers SMP Racing's BR1 LMP1 cars with P60C engines in FIA World Endurance Championship. Partnership achieved historic overall 3rd place podium at 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, becoming top LMP1 Privateer. Also achieved podiums at Spa and Sebring WEC races. Drivers included Jenson Button, Mikhail Aleshin, Vitaly Petrov, Stoffel Vandoorne.
• Andersen Promotions / Indy LightscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015AER has been exclusive engine supplier for Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires series since 2015 (entering fourth season as of 2018). The partnership features the Mazda MZR-R turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine powering all Dallara IL-15 chassis. Series has produced five consecutive champions who graduated to IndyCar.
• MazdaspeedsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007AER developed the P41 engine in conjunction with Mazdaspeed for LMP2 applications. The MZR-R engine was debuted by B-K Motorsports at 2007 12 Hours of Sebring and ran through 2008. Dyson Racing continued Mazda/AER program in 2009.
• Life RacingcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1997Life Racing is an in-house sister company of AER specializing in motorsport electronics. The close partnership allows AER to develop more sophisticated engines with integrated electronics including ECU, Power Distribution Units, sensors, gearshift systems, wiring harnesses, paddle shift systems, drive by wire, and high-reliability systems.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ilmor Engineering: US-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance racing engines for IndyCar, NASCAR, and marine applications. Directly comparable to AER as a private, bespoke racing engine builder serving top-tier North American and international motorsport series.
• Engine Developments (Judd): UK-based independent racing engine manufacturer with a long history in F1, sportscar, and IndyCar. Comparable to AER as a private specialist engine builder focused on bespoke, high-performance applications for professional motorsport.
• Cosworth: Historic British motorsport engine specialist supplying bespoke powertrains to top-tier series including Formula 1 (historically), IndyCar, and endurance racing. Comparable to AER in proprietary engine technology, racing series partnerships, and integrated electronics capabilities.
• Pipo Moteurs: French independent racing engine builder serving endurance and GT racing series. Comparable to AER as a private, niche competitor in bespoke motorsport powertrains for European and international racing teams.
• Mecachrome: French high-precision engineering company producing Formula 1 engines on a supply basis, alongside motorsport and aerospace components. Comparable to AER as a private specialist delivering advanced engines to professional racing under tight technical specifications.
• Gibson Technology: UK-based manufacturer of bespoke racing engines, best known as the spec engine supplier for LMP2 in FIA WEC and the European Le Mans Series. Closely comparable to AER in business model (B2B bespoke and spec-series engine supply) and customer base (endurance racing teams).

Broad incumbents

• Honda Performance Development (HPD): US subsidiary of Honda responsible for motorsport engine programs including Acura DPi and IndyCar. Comparable to AER in motorsport engine supply but operates as the in-house engine arm of a major OEM with substantially greater capital and scale.
• Multimatic: Canadian engineering services and motorsport company that partners with AER on the Mazda DPi program, providing chassis and race operations. Comparable as a complementary motorsport engineering services provider and partnership counterparty rather than a direct engine competitor.
• Ricardo: UK engineering consultancy with motorsport heritage and ongoing performance engine development work. Comparable to AER in advanced engine engineering capability but operates as a much larger, publicly listed strategic engineering firm serving automotive, motorsport, and industrial customers.

Regional players

• Xtrac (Transmission Technology): UK-based specialist supplier of motorsport transmissions and driveline components serving endurance, GT, and single-seater racing. Comparable to AER as a privately held UK motorsport engineering supplier with a similar customer base of professional racing teams.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aerlimited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Advanced Engine Research