His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent is to see behind the normally closed doors of MIRA as part of a three-venue visit to Leicestershire on Wednesday 9 June, 1999.

After visiting the Leicestershire Scout Centre at Blaby and opening a new Media Centre at the County Cricket Club in Grace Road, Leicester, His Royal Highness will travel to MIRA.

He will be welcomed to the automotive technology, research and development centre near Nuneaton by the Chairman, Mr Clive Ennos who retired two years ago as Director of Vehicle Engineering Operations at Jaguar and the Managing Director, Mr John Wood.

During his visit The Duke will meet some of MIRA's key personnel including a number of young engineers who are making their way towards senior roles in the automotive industry of the 21st century.

He will see some of MIRA's extensive laboratories and facilities where scientists and engineers are developing a wide range of vehicles of the future including alternative-fuel cars and a fuel-cell-powered bus.

In MIRA's world-renowned Crash Laboratory he will witness a side-impact test on a model under development.

Mr Wood said:

"We are delighted and honoured that His Royal Highness has asked to visit MIRA. Much of our work with customers, and some of our own research, is commercially sensitive and therefore remains very much 'behind-the-scenes'. We readily accept this, although it does mean that MIRA's staff are rarely credited for their important contributions to new technologies, innovative designs and world-class products.

"However, the occasion of a Royal Visit brings the value of our work into focus and gives all our staff great pleasure. What's more, a number of our Members and customers are participating in the visit; some have allowed us to invite His Royal Highness to see their latest, and still-secret, models."

While at MIRA, The Duke will be driven between various facilities in an S-Type Jaguar and a new Rover 75. Both vehicles were developed using MIRA skills, expertise and facilities including the Crash Laboratory, Wind Tunnels and Proving Ground.

Before leaving MIRA, His Royal Highness will be driven round a number of the special circuits on the Proving Ground including the Wet Handling Circuit opened towards the end of last year. He will be invited to take the wheel of MIRA's Driver Training Vehicle to experience for himself the unique features of the 1.6km, fully-wetted circuit designed to meet the needs of vehicle manufacturers for many years to come.