WMG today formed the final lap of a tour by The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and President of the Board of Trade, of three literal engines of economic growth in the Midlands.

The focus of Dr Cable's visit to WMG was to learn about its industrial collaborations and to identify opportunities for economic growth.

In just three hours Dr Cable experienced three very different cars produced or developed in the Midlands. After visits to see two other cars this morning he arrived at WMG’s International Manufacturing Centre to tour the work within it and WMG’s International Digital Laboratory.

WMG Director Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya showed him the third and final car of his 3 hour, 3 car tour. This was the “WorldFirst Formula 3 racing car” created by researchers at WMG. The car can be powered by chocolate, steered by a wheel made from carrots, has bodywork made from potatoes, and can still do 125mph around corners. It is a powerful demonstrator of how environmentally friendly technologies can be employed in some of the most demanding high performance vehicles.

Dr Cable then stayed on within WMG to attend a business round table meeting of West Midlands Business Voice.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “I was delighted to visit Warwick University and experience for myself the type of innovation that will help develop new manufacturing industries.

“WMG and the University are playing a vital role in helping the UK become a world leader in innovation by bringing together top research and business partnerships. Warwick has become one of Britain's leading universities, in large part because of its long standing commitment to work with business and promote innovation, with wider benefits for the UK economy.

"Thank you for a fascinating visit. I am amazed at the breadth of technology WMG is engaged in."

Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya said: “We are delighted that the Secretary of State has come to see for himself how R&D facilities like those at WMG are a real and significant engine driving economic growth. The many research partnerships formed between universities like Warwick and companies like JLR ,and its many suppliers, makes a vital contribution towards sustaining UK economic growth”

Notes to editors

For more information please contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Communications Manager, University of Warwick, 02476 150483, 07824 540863, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk