PANELISTS | MOTORSPORT CLUB 2026

Experienced international expert with a proven track record of helping Italian companies expand their business operations beyond national borders. With almost 20 years of industry experience, he has successfully guided companies by conducting in-depth market analysis, devising targeted entry strategies, selecting effective distribution channels, and overseeing international business development.
In 2015 Matteo founded Global Marketing Architecture (GMA), a company specialized in facilitating business connections and collaborations between Italian and foreign companies in the motorsport sector investing particularly in recognizing the importance of both Italy and the United Kingdom as pillars of the European motorsport industry and actively work to create networking opportunities and knowledge exchange between the two nations.
He is a trusted consultant for both institutional clients and commercial networks, providing reliable advice and support in Italy as well as internationally. His dedication to developing practical strategies for commercial growth has significantly contributed to the success and advancement of the companies he has worked with. Having successfully executed projects on a global scale, Matteo possesses strong project management and development skills. Despite his extensive international experience, he remains focused on key sectors of the company, such as Motorsport and Med Tech Industries, where GMA aims to expand its presence.

Andrea Cartapani is an Italian engineer, automotive communicator and content creator. Through his project “Andrea Cars and More”, he explains automotive technology, engineering and industry trends to a broad audience across YouTube, Instagram and other media platforms. His work focuses on making complex technical topics accessible without oversimplifying them, combining engineering accuracy with clear storytelling. Andrea also collaborates with automotive media and brands, producing technical content, factory reports and event coverage from some of the most relevant places in the automotive world.

Matt Frost is the Chief Operating Officer at RML Group, leading operational delivery across its Power, Engineering, Motorsport, and Bespoke divisions. With more than 15 years of engineering leadership experience, he oversees complex, high‑value programmes spanning Project Management, Supply Chain, and Vehicle and Powertrain Build, driving performance across some of the organisation’s most demanding technical challenges. His in-depth knowledge of the defence sector was shaped during his service as an Engineering Officer in the British Army, where he developed expertise in leadership, operational planning, and delivery under pressure. His deployments included the UK, Kenya, and Canada, as well as an operational tour of Afghanistan, where he led the implementation of the Warrior Survivability Upgrade Programme. He later applied this experience to advanced engineering programmes across automotive, motorsport, and defence while serving as Director of Programmes at Delta Cosworth. Matt brings a distinctive dual‑lens perspective to the panel, combining military operational insight with hands‑on experience delivering world‑class defence and motorsport programmes. His expertise spans operational excellence, large‑scale programme delivery, and building the capability required to push the limits of engineering performance both on and off the track.

Luca Buscherini is a senior international executive with over three decades of experience in electronics, ICT, telecommunications, power electronics, and industrial automation, serving global B2B markets.
He currently holds the position of Sales Director at System Electronics, a company of the Coesia Group, where he is responsible for defining and executing global commercial strategies for advanced industrial, embedded, and automotive electronic solutions.
Throughout his career, Mr. Buscherini has held executive and senior leadership roles in renowned multinational organizations, including Elenos Group, Riello UPS, PRAMAC (Generac Group), AEG Power Solutions, Nokia Siemens Networks, and Siemens. His professional background combines strategic sales leadership, business and product management, large‑scale project execution, and organizational transformation within complex, international environments.
A significant part of his professional career was spent in Germany, where he lived and worked for more than 16 years. During this time, he served as Managing Director of Riello UPS GmbH and Riello Power Systems GmbH.
Mr. Buscherini holds a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering (cum laude) from the University of Ferrara. He is fluent in Italian, English, and German, and is widely recognized for his analytical leadership style, international mindset, and strong focus on long‑term value creation.
His work increasingly focuses on the convergence of electronics, software, Edge AI, and smart solutions, supporting customers in accelerating technological innovation and business performance.

Matilde La Guardia entered the world of motorsport at the age of 15 as a driver, competing in national and international karting championships where she achieved numerous successes. She also gained experience in car racing, continuing her competitive career until the age of 24.
At 19, she founded a karting club, serving as its President for three years, and launched a commercial business specializing in the sale of chassis, lubricants, tires, and kart spare parts. In 2004, at the age of 21, she began her career as a data engineer, evolving by 2007 into the role of track engineer in Italian and European championships, including Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3, Formula 3000, and Sports Prototypes, securing significant sporting achievements, including two Italian titles. During this time, she earned her degree in Mechanical Engineering, completing her thesis at Dallara.
In 2010, she joined Ferrari, working both on track for the Ferrari Challenge Europe and North America and in road car development, while simultaneously collaborating on the Maserati Trofeo World Series.
In 2013, she moved to Maserati full-time, taking on increasing responsibilities within Product Development. She eventually led the development of the GT2 racing version of the MC20 and the limited-edition track car, the MCXtrema.
Following a two-year tenure at Alfa Romeo as Head of Product Management, she joined Pininfarina in 2025 as the Development Lead for flagship models.

Daniel Tartaglini is the Managing Director of Ricardo Italy and Chief Programme Engineer, Hybrid & Driveline. Daniel is a technical leader with a deep passion for high-performance engineering and extensive experience in powertrain and vehicle development, ranging from the motorcycle sector to high-performance applications and advanced driveline systems.
After building a solid career in the automotive and motorsport industries, including several years spent at Ducati, Daniel joined Ricardo in 2020 as Chief Engineer within the Motorcycle and Powersports group. Subsequently, he took on the role of Chief Programme Engineer for hybrid technologies and driveline systems, leading complex cross-sector initiatives and supporting customers in navigating the ever-evolving mobility landscape.
He currently holds a key role at Ricardo’s Technical Centre in Rimini, where he drives growth and strengthens collaboration between the Italian and international engineering ecosystems, fostering connections between industry, technology, and innovation.

Mark Banks is the Business Development Director at Xtrac, responsible for strengthening strategic partnerships across global motorsport, high-performance automotive, and emerging market applications. Xtrac is widely recognised as a world-leading designer and manufacturer of transmission systems, supporting top-level motorsport and high-performance programmes and delivering advanced engineering solutions to teams and manufacturers worldwide.
With extensive experience across international programmes, Mark focuses on identifying collaborative opportunities, supporting new vehicle platforms, and aligning technical innovation with robust commercial strategies. His role spans engagement with OEMs, race teams, technology partners, and new industries, helping drive the development of next-generation driveline systems for ICE, hybrid, and electric high-performance applications.
Previously, Mark held senior procurement and supply chain leadership roles at McLaren Automotive, Aston Martin, and Arrival. In these positions, he was responsible for developing powertrain and electrical supply chains, working at the intersection of engineering, procurement, and supplier development to enable scalable, high-technology, future-ready strategies.
At this year’s Motorsport Club, Mark is focused on strengthening relationships between Italian and British motorsport-focused companies, with particular interest in partnerships that leverage the complementary strengths of both regions’ engineering ecosystems. Mark enjoys visiting Italy and values the opportunity to experience the region’s rich motorsport heritage, historic towns, and renowned food and wine.

John Hollingworth began his career in 1995 through an engineering apprenticeship scheme in the aerospace industry. He subsequently moved into the automotive sector with Standard Motor Products, where he trained as a mechanical design engineer and worked closely with OEM customers to design engine management switches and sensors. During this period, John studied for a BSc with The Open University, alongside gaining diplomas in design and innovation and business management.
After ten years in the automotive industry, John spent six years with Cable Management Products, where he led the development of a range of building energy management control systems. During this time, he successfully transitioned from an engineering background into commercial leadership, taking on the role of Business Unit Manager.
John later returned to the automotive industry with Tsubaki, serving as Key Account Manager for engine timing chain systems. In 2012, he joined MAHLE Powertrain, an automotive engineering consultancy, initially as Commercial Manager. His continued success led to his appointment as Sales and Marketing Director in 2021, where he continues to support the automotive industry across the full spectrum of powertrain development — from ever more efficient combustion engines to bespoke high-performance battery packs, as well as advanced powertrain development and testing.

Carlo Cavagnero graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the Politecnico di Torino. Since his university years, he has combined academic studies with applied research in the engine sector, focusing particularly on high-thermodynamic-efficiency combustion processes.
Since 2017, he has served as Technical Manager at Italtecnica, a Turin-based company with over 40 years of experience in high-performance powertrain development. In this role, he has led the development of high-performance engines — ranging from L4 units to V12 configurations — for applications spanning from motorsport to the restomod and hypercar markets, collaborating with both Italian and international OEMs. He is also the co-inventor of a patent for a high-efficiency combustion system, developed in partnership with Claudio Lombardi.

Matteo Prati is an Electronics System Engineer and entrepreneur specializing in embedded systems, vehicle electronics, and high-voltage powertrain technologies. Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, he combines academic research with hands-on industrial experience gained within Italy’s Motor Valley. Throughout his career, Matteo has contributed to the development, validation, and calibration of advanced electronic systems for electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, working on Vehicle Control Units (VCUs), Battery Management Systems (BMS), power distribution systems, and embedded firmware architectures. At Bieffe Project, he played a key role in the MIMì hydrogen vehicle project, focusing on firmware development, onboard electronics integration, and vehicle validation activities. Previously, at Voltmec Srl, he worked on lithium battery systems, PDUs, and high-voltage electrical components for automotive and industrial applications. Matteo also served for several years within the MoRe Modena Racing Hybrid Formula Student team, first as Electronics Division Leader and later as Team Principal, leading multidisciplinary teams in the development and calibration of hybrid racing vehicles. His experience combines technical expertise, leadership, and a strong focus on innovation in automotive engineering.

He has been an international Human Resources professional for over 30 years. He holds an interdisciplinary degree in “Dynamics in Organizational Environments” from the University of Wisconsin, USA (encompassing Sociology, Psychology, Social Change and Development, Communication, and Business).
He attended Master’s degree programs in Human Resources at the London School of Economics. He is the Co-founder and Manager of RPM, the Italian Motorsport Network of which AWA is a member, and serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of AWA with a special mandate for training and education.
An international author and speaker, his upcoming book will focus on the Motorsport mindset oriented toward innovation, inclusion, and inspiration. In particular, it will provide unique perspectives on the role of women in motorsport and other development- and change-intensive activities. He is the Co-founder of MindUp Enhancement Psychology®️, an innovative method to improve performance in sports and organizations, which is also utilized for AWA’s activities.
Recently, he served as Sporting Director and Head of Communications for the AWA team at the 15th Historic Grand Prix of Monaco, leading an all-female team starting with Monica Zanetti (co-founder of AWA) and also including two female mechanics: Lucrezia Milanesi and Daria Gavriliu.

Award winning marketeer and business leader Pim van Baarsen has been the CEO of the Silverstone Technology Cluster (STC) since its inception in January 2017. Pim started his career at the Motorsport Industry Association after completing a Masters degree in business studies. During his time there he was presented with the AIM Young Business Person of the Year award for his efforts in helping the organisation grow. He subsequently joined transmission specialists Xtrac where he oversaw their sportscar activities. After two years there he was invited to join Haymarket as Group Marketing Manager. In 2010, Pim co-founded CMA Marketing, a marketing agency specialising in technical B2B marketing. In December 2016 Pim was asked to head up the Silverstone Technology Cluster. He is also part of the Industry Advisory Group set up in January 2021 and is chair of the STC board since 2022. He sits on the Board for SEMLEP Growth Hub and is a member of the steering group for Central Arc Angels Investment Group, as well as being an advisory board member for Be the Business. In his spare time, Pim is a keen film enthusiast and is executive producer of the indie production, Wild Bones.

Nicolò Cavina is Full Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering of Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, where his work focuses on internal combustion engines, hybrid powertrains, electrification, testing, modelling and control of propulsion systems.
His professional background is strongly connected to the automotive and motorsport sectors, through both research and technology transfer. He is co-founder of Alma Automotive, a University of Bologna spin-off active in the development of advanced solutions for powertrain testing, calibration and control, with high-performance and motorsport applications. Over the years, he has coordinated several research collaborations with leading companies in the automotive and motor engineering industries.
At the University of Bologna, he is Faculty Advisor of the SAE International Collegiate Chapter and has long been involved in hands-on educational projects with a strong engineering and racing focus, including Formula Student and MotoStudent. These initiatives engage large teams of students every year in the design and development of competition vehicles and performance-oriented engineering solutions.
Since 2023, he has served as Vice President of Clust-ER MECH, the Emilia-Romagna regional cluster for mechatronics and propulsion engineering, contributing to stronger collaboration among universities, research centres and industry.