Supercharged racecars which have broken the dominance of Audi are due to hit the track in America this weekend - and could have important spin-offs for its Birmingham-based manufacturer.
High-tech engineering firm Zytek, which has a base in Sutton Coldfield, is due to race in Ohio this weekend.
Its Zytek 04 S car has a top speed above 200mph and can accelerate from 0 to 100mph and back again in approximately six seconds.
The car contains groundbreaking technology developed by Zytek which could have applications for the volume car makers.
It has already beaten the Audi race cars in the first round of the Le Mans Endurance Series last month, and will take part in the five more events in the endurance racing calendar.
The Zytek Team fulfilled its potential at the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium where it took overall victory a lap ahead of its nearest rival.
Zytek team boss Trevor Foster said: "We were lapping faster than the best of the competition in conditions that were less than ideal, and just as important, we achieved the reliability and consistency that is so important in racing."
The car, which has its 3.4 litre V8 engines made in Repton, near Derby, features a electronics, ignition and engine management system designed and made in Sutton Coldfield, where Zytek it employs 50 people.
The chassis, which are produced from carbon fibre, are made at Zytek's site in Banbury.
One of the key innovations is the electric gear-shift system (EGS), which could now appear in production cars made by volume manufacturers.
The system involves virtually no mechanical parts, allowing for greater reliability and faster gear changes - with up to four downshifts in less than a second via a paddle control on the steering wheel.
The fully-electric approach removes the need for a separate hydraulic or pneumatic system, reducing vehicle mass and complexity. Once fitted, the system is essentially maintenance-free and there is no potential for leakage of air or hydraulic fluid.
John Manchester, operations director at Zytek, said: "When we won at Spa, it was the first time the Audis have beaten in the last four years. It is an extremely good, powerful car.
"There are lots of production cars using race-car technology because a race-car engine is operating in a very hostile environment, with high temperatures and strains being place upon it.
"Reliability is all important and it is vital to get the product right. There is nothing to top this technology being used by a car maker."
Mr Manchester said two automotive manufacturers have already contacted Zytek about the EGS, but could not reveal their identities.
He said: " Two firms have been to look at the system and are very interested in it. If they decide to buy the technology, they could either ask us to make it for them, or they could produce it under licences.
"Either way it, it would be excellent for us. This is something we have been working on for quite a while, and it would be very pleasing if it was taken on. This is one of the reasons why we race the car, to show some of the technology we can do."
Mr Manchester was also upbeat about the car's chances in the Ohio race, where it will take on sports car prototypes from Porsche, Audi and Panoz during in the 21/2 hour event.
" We have made some improvements since Spa, which was an excellent result, and we with the car's performance we think we can get a top three finish. If we win, that would be fantastic."
