In a week when the UK’s political parties have set out their manifestos for the next five years, the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) has announced its intention to help this country’s world-beating motorsport industry to create a strategy for future business growth.With a working title of ‘Motorsport 2020’, this project will bring together ideas from leaders of the UK’s motorsport business arena about the approach they wish the new government to take, over the next five years, to bring further growth to their successful British engineering sector.Chris Aylett, CEO of the MIA, said: “The UK is the undisputed leader in global motorsport and must work hard to maintain that position over the next five years. We are fortunate to be home to most of the Formula 1 teams, as well as the entire Formula E programme. The UK also hosts the leading international supply chain for most major racing and rally series around the world.“Motorsport Valley® companies have developed state-of-the-art technologies which are now being used in defence, healthcare, aerospace, automotive and marine. Nine in ten UK motorsport businesses export overseas and the industry employs 41,000 people across 4,300 organisations, generating more than £9bn in worldwide sales.”Aylett continues: “However, to stay ahead, we now need to create an industry-led strategy for business growth for the new UK government. Political leaders will engage with those industry sectors with sound strategies in place and, where possible, support their progress. We’ve recently seen this approach succeeding with the Automotive Council, the Aerospace and Defence Growth Partnerships and the National Composites Strategy. The MIA and its members have played important roles within these, but now we are asking our motorsport industry leaders to put forward their ideas which can help us set the strategic direction of motorsport for the next five years.”As part of the Motorsport 2020 project, the MIA is asking all UK motorsport organisations to share their best ideas for business growth through the website – www.the-mia.com - and by attending an industry workshop on this subject which will be announced later in the year.Aylett concludes: “This vital project is a mark of the maturity of Britain’s motorsport industry, which already punches above its weight when it comes to global reach and economic value. However, now we must take our business destiny into our own hands, by setting set out a blueprint for future success which has wide industry support and then implementing it.“If we don’t let the new UK government know what we want, and what we are willing to invest in, then we can’t expect their support. This is an exciting time for UK motorsport with endless opportunities which we can grasp by working together in a structured and strategic way.”For more information and to put forward ideas, please visit www.the-mia.com.