The PRI Show has always been where racers go looking for the next piece of speed. This December, Performance Racing Industry wants some of the people responsible for creating that speed to sit down and talk about how they found it.
PRI will debut its Motorsports Engineering Symposium on Dec. 10 during the 2026 PRI Show at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The one-day program will put engineers, manufacturers, educators and motorsports professionals in the same room for discussions ranging from simulation and powertrain limitations to manufacturing and the industry’s need to develop its next generation of engineers.
It is a decidedly technical addition to a show built around an industry where the difference between winning and going home can be buried inside data, metallurgy, thermal management or a manufacturing process most race fans will never see.
The symposium begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 4:30 p.m., with representatives from INDYCAR, Purdue University and Motor State Distribution among those scheduled to participate.
“The PRI Motorsports Engineering Symposium is designed to bring different areas of motorsports engineering into the same conversation,” PRI Managing Director Doug Bresnahan said. “From simulation and powertrain development to materials, manufacturing, and developing the next generation of engineers, these are issues that affect the future of the industry.
“Bringing the right people together to share knowledge and experience is an important part of PRI’s commitment to technical education and industry advancement.”
The first technical session, “From Simulation to Track: Closing the Performance Gap,” begins at 10:15 a.m. It tackles one of modern racing’s increasingly important realities: Computers can predict plenty, but somebody eventually has to make the race car reproduce those numbers on asphalt.
At 11:15 a.m., the focus shifts to “Powertrain & Thermal Limits: Where Performance Breaks,” followed by a Purdue Networking Lunch at 12:15 p.m.
The afternoon moves beyond finding horsepower and toward finding the people who will be responsible for finding it in the future.
“Building the Next Race Engineer: Closing the Talent Gap” begins at 1:30 p.m., putting workforce development directly into the engineering conversation. Purdue University Director of Motorsports Engineering Chris Finch said creating engineers capable of working in racing requires exposure to considerably more than textbooks and classrooms.
“Developing the next generation of motorsports engineers requires more than classroom learning,” Finch said. “It requires opportunities to connect students and emerging engineers with the people, technologies, and challenges shaping the industry.
“The program provides a valuable forum for that exchange.”
Materials and manufacturing take over at 2:30 p.m. with “Materials & Manufacturing: Speed to Track,” before the technical sessions conclude with “The Future of Motorsports Engineering” at 3:30 p.m.
Those subjects have become increasingly intertwined as racing organizations lean harder on simulation, advanced manufacturing and data while simultaneously trying to shorten development cycles. What once might have required lengthy testing can increasingly begin inside a computer, move through manufacturing and arrive at the racetrack as a finished component.
Still, INDYCAR Vice President of Competition and Engineering Mike O’Gara said technology doesn’t eliminate the human element from the equation.
“Engineering decisions are ultimately about finding performance, and that requires bringing together data, technology, and experience,” O’Gara said. “Creating a forum where engineers and industry professionals can discuss those challenges and share what they are learning is valuable for the entire motorsports community.”
Motor State Distribution Vice President of Marketing Daryl Sampson sees the same pressure from the supplier side of the business. As race teams push development, the companies building and supplying what they use cannot afford to stand still.
“The technical demands of motorsports continue to evolve, and the companies supporting the industry have to evolve with them,” Sampson said. “This program creates an opportunity to share knowledge, explore new technologies, and connect with the engineers and professionals who are solving these challenges every day.”
The symposium requires no separate registration and carries no additional fee. Anyone holding a valid PRI Show badge can attend.
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