On Friday, 28 June, Xtrac employees commemorated the company’s 40th anniversary with a celebration at a picturesque venue near their Thatcham headquarters in Berkshire. Each team member’s unique contributions were recognized, reflecting on four decades of exceptional engineering and customer service.
The event showcased significant gearbox developments and race-winning cars that Xtrac has supported over the years, demonstrating the company’s advanced engineering design and manufacturing prowess.
“As we step into our fifth decade, it’s a fitting moment to pause and appreciate the incredible journey Xtrac has been on,” remarked Chief Executive Adrian Moore. “Since our founding on 15 June 1984, our dedication to engineering excellence and customer service has propelled us to the forefront of transmission supply for top-level motorsport and high-performance road cars. This celebration is a testament to our collective efforts and a source of inspiration for our future.”
Peter Digby, President and one of the company’s first employees, reflected on the beginnings: “Our journey began with Mike Endean, who developed the G4 gearbox for rallycross star Martin Schanche’s Ford Escort. The success of the G4 in European Rallycross during the 1980s established Xtrac’s ethos of exceptional products and customer service. It was a pleasure to have Mike as our guest of honor at this celebration.”
Xtrac’s initial triumphs in off-road and Group A rally categories led to collaborations with major manufacturers such as Mazda, Mitsubishi, Opel, and Toyota. The company’s entry into Formula 1 came in 1989 when Onyx commissioned Xtrac to develop a transverse gearbox. This success was followed by McLaren, and soon Xtrac was supplying gearboxes to most Formula 1 teams, including BAR, Minardi, Benetton, Jordan, McLaren, Tyrrell, and Williams. Xtrac continues to provide high-specification gearbox components to leading teams today.
The 1990s saw Xtrac expanding into various motorsport categories, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). The company introduced sequential gearboxes to rallying, enhancing vehicle performance and reliability.
In the early 2000s, Xtrac secured significant single-supply contracts, beginning with IndyCar in 1999, which required the rapid production of 100 gearboxes. This led to the construction of a new 88,000-square-foot factory in Thatcham in 2000. In 2003, Xtrac established its first American operation in Indianapolis to support its US customers.
Over the past two decades, Xtrac has built a stellar reputation in the high-performance automotive sector, demonstrating its ability to adapt advanced motorsport technology to road cars. Starting with Tesla prototypes in 2006 and the Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric prototype in 2011, Xtrac has since expanded significantly into EV and hybrid transmissions. The company also provides transmissions for hydrogen combustion engine prototypes as the industry explores alternative propulsion systems to achieve net zero emissions.
Today, Xtrac’s business is approximately 65% motorsport and 35% high-performance road cars. The company focuses on providing transmissions for internal combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicles across both sectors. Annually, Xtrac produces over a quarter of a million parts, supported by a robust design and manufacturing process. The Thatcham facility is equipped with advanced machinery and equipment to manufacture gearbox components and systems in-house, along with high-security data systems, transmission control system software and hardware development, and a dedicated R&D department. The Xtrac Academy trains apprentices and graduates, with many remaining with the company long after completing their training—more than fifty current staff members have been trained through this scheme.
“We are always looking to the future,” says Moore. “While it was appropriate to spend an evening reflecting on the past 40 years with our staff and their partners, we remain forward-focused. We continue to innovate in technology, with over £3 million invested in our manufacturing facility over the past twelve months. This ensures we continue to provide exceptional products to our customers, maintaining our commitment to quality and timely delivery. As the automotive and motorsport industry evolves, Xtrac aims to stay at the forefront of transmission design and manufacturing excellence.”
