Autogem celebrated the fifth anniversary of its flagship Under Pressure TPMS competition, with its biggest, most influential and most successful event to date.
Held at the Pirelli Performance Centre in Burton-on-Trent on one of the hottest days of the year, Under Pressure ’26 once again shone a spotlight on the exceptional talent that exists within the tyre trade, with 16 finalists competing for honours across three categories.
The event attracted leading retailers, suppliers and industry figures from across the automotive sector, as it becomes a red-letter-day in the aftermarket calendar and underlined its growing status as one of the industry’s premier technical events.
Supported by a stellar line-up of sponsors Pirelli Performance Centre, Autotech Group, DEWALT, Schaeffler, Pro-Align, NTDA, The AA, Auto 3iii and Automechanika Birmingham, the event brought together technicians, business leaders and industry stakeholders united by a shared commitment to raising standards and showcasing skill.
Despite the soaring temperatures, finalists kept their cool throughout a series of demanding practical challenges designed to push their TPMS knowledge, diagnostic skills and technical expertise to the limit.
Technicians were tasked with identifying and assessing a range of TPMS faults on a vehicle before presenting their findings to Autogem’s judging panel and resident TPMS experts. A speed challenge then followed, requiring competitors to remove a sensor and replace a valve assembly as quickly and accurately as possible.
After an intensely competitive final, three category winners emerged:
Kai Llewellyn and Brajan Szalachta both successfully defended their titles, having also triumphed in their respective categories at Under Pressure ’25.
Created by Autogem in 2022, Under Pressure has evolved from an ambitious training initiative into one of the aftermarket’s most recognised technical competitions, helping to improve TPMS understanding, enhance technician confidence and reinforce the importance of tyre safety throughout the industry.
Reflecting on the success of the fifth anniversary event, Autogem Managing Director
Prashant Chopra said: “We couldn’t have wished for a better venue than The Pirelli Performance Centre, which is now synonymous with Under Pressure and helps make the event the success it is. Five years ago, we had a vision of creating something that would genuinely benefit technicians, raise standards and bring the industry together around a common goal. To see Under Pressure ’26 become our biggest and most successful event yet is incredibly rewarding.”
“What stood out most wasn’t just the quality of the competition, but the quality of the people in the room. We welcomed representatives from some of the UK’s largest retail networks, leading suppliers and industry organisations, all demonstrating a collective desire to improve standards and invest in technician development.”
He continued: “The level of skill on display was exceptional. Our finalists were working under pressure, in challenging conditions and in front of an audience of respected industry professionals, yet they demonstrated remarkable composure, technical knowledge and professionalism throughout.”
“We’ve always said that Under Pressure is about creating a positive legacy for the aftermarket. Five years on, we’re seeing that legacy come to life through stronger partnerships, better-trained technicians and a growing awareness of the importance of TPMS.”
“The support we’ve received from sponsors, judges, retailers and industry leaders has been phenomenal. Together, we’ve created something that the industry can be genuinely proud of, and we’re already looking forward to making Under Pressure ’27 even bigger and better.”
