Motor sport careers

The UK motor sport industry  - which includes most of the Formula One and World Rally Championship teams, plus hundreds of `behind the scenes' companies -  provides full-time employment all over Britain for at least 38,500 people, plus another 100,000 part - time jobs.  They include truck drivers, mechanics, engineers, tyre fitters, electricians, IT consultants, salesmen, secretaries, and people in public relations, administration and planning.

    Great Britain is the very centre of world motor sport. Some of the world's most successful corporations rely on British expertise to build and run competition cars, including Mercedes, Nissan, Honda, Renault, Porsche, Ford, Yamaha, BMW, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Proton and Subaru. Cars designed in Britain have won over 80% of all Formula one Grands Prix held in the last ten years. Almost all the cars which take part in America's famous Indianapolis 500 motor race (including their "Chevrolet" and "Mercedes" engines!) were built in Britain.

    Possible employment opportunities include: car, truck, kart and motor cycle manufacturers; design houses and test laboratories; tyre manufacturers; accessory and safety equipment manufacturers; fuel and oil companies; motor sport teams and preparation specialists; race and rally driving schools; PR consultancies; advertising and promotional agencies; legal, design and environmental organisations; circuit and venue operators; journalists and photographers.

    Some motor sport activities qualify towards elements of Scouting and Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes, and this is likely to be further developed in the future. Competition driving experience is even recognised as a qualification for work as a stunt performer in film and television.

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