The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; ) is an international organisation with two primary functions surrounding use of the
automobile
A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, peopl ...
. Its mobility division
advocates
An advocate is a professional in the field of law. Different countries and legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a barrister or a solicitor. Howeve ...
the interests of motoring organisations, the
automotive industry
The automotive industry comprises a wide range of company, companies and organizations involved in the design, Business development, development, manufacturing, marketing, selling, Maintenance, repairing, and Custom car, modification of motor ve ...
and motor car users in the fields of
road safety
Road traffic safety refers to the methods and measures, such as traffic calming, to prevent road users from being killed or seriously injured. Typical road users include pedestrians, cyclists, Driving, motorists, passengers of vehicles, and p ...
and
traffic circulation. The sport division is a governing body for many international
motorsport
Motorsport or motor sport are sporting events, competitions and related activities that primarily involve the use of Car, automobiles, motorcycles, motorboats and Aircraft, powered aircraft. For each of these vehicle types, the more specific term ...
championships and disciplines, including
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
.
The FIA was formally established on 20 June 1904. It is headquartered at 8
Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde (; ) is a public square in Paris, France. Measuring in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.
It was the s ...
, Paris, with offices in
Geneva
Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
,
Valleiry and
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. The FIA consists of 245 member organisations in 149 countries worldwide. Its current president is
Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The FIA is generally known by its French name or initials, even in non-French-speaking countries, but is occasionally rendered as International Automobile Federation.
Its most prominent role is in the licensing and sanctioning of
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
,
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship (abbreviated as WRC) is an international rallying series owned and governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA. Inaugurated in 1973, it is the oldest FIA world championship after Formula One. E ...
,
World Endurance Championship,
TCR World Tour,
World Rallycross Championship,
Formula E
Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is an open-wheel single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The racing series is the highest class of competition for electrically powered single-seater racing cars ...
, and various other forms of racing. The FIA along with the
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The International Motorcycling Federation (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) or (FIM) is the global governing/sanctioning body of motorcycle racing. It represents 123 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six continent ...
(FIM) also certify
land speed record
The land speed record (LSR) or absolute land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a person using a vehicle on land. By a 1964 agreement between the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Fédération Internationale de M ...
attempts. The
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee (IOC; , CIO) is the international, non-governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is based i ...
provisionally recognised the federation in 2011, and granted full recognition in 2013.
History
The ''Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus'' (AIACR, English: 'International Association of Recognized Automobile Clubs') was founded in Paris on 20 June 1904, as an association of national
motor clubs. The association was designed to represent the interests of motor car users, as well as to oversee the burgeoning international motor sport scene.
In 1922, the AIACR established the
Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI), which would oversee international motorsport matters, such as setting the regulations for
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing, a form of motorsport competition, has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as early as 1894. It quickly evolved from simple road races from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and ...
. Previously, this responsibility had been entrusted to the sporting commission of the
Automobile Club de France
The Automobile Club of France () (ACF) is a men's club founded on 12 November 1895 by Albert de Dion, , and its first president, the Dutch-born Baron Étienne van Zuylen van Nyevelt.
The Automobile Club of France, also known in French as "ACF" o ...
. The
World Manufacturers' Championship was introduced in 1925, replaced by the
European Drivers' Championship in 1931 with a title awarded to the driver with the best results in the selected Grands Prix.
Upon resumption of motorsport after the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the AIACR was renamed the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. The FIA established a number of championships in the following years; the World Championship for Drivers in 1950, and the
World Championship for Sports Cars in 1953. That same year it also established the
European Rally Championship
The European Rally Championship (officially FIA European Rally Championship) is an rallying, automobile rally competition held annually on the European continent and organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
The champion ...
, and then in 1963, the
European Touring Car Challenge.
In 1962, the FIA created the
Commission Internationale de Karting
The Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK; English: International Karting Commission), also known as the CIK-FIA, is the primary governing body for international kart racing. Founded in 1962, it is one of seven World Championship commission ...
(CIK, also CIK-FIA), to oversee the growing
karting discipline at international level, with a Nations Cup organised in the first year.
In 1978,
Jean-Marie Balestre begun his presidency of the CSI, and it was renamed to ''Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile'' (FISA), with the intention of creating a governing body for automobile motor sport with some autonomy from the rest of the FIA, which retained control of the karting commission, CIK. Balestre believed motor sport was not being managed well and wanted to professionalise and commercialise the sport, particularly in Formula One which led to a dispute with participants known as the
FISA–FOCA war
The FISA–FOCA war was a political battle contested throughout the early 1980s by two now-defunct representative organizations in Formula One motor racing, the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) and the Formula One Construct ...
. Balestre later took presidency of the FIA in 1985, managing presidencies of both federations simultaneously. He lost the FISA presidency in 1991, and the FIA presidency in 1993, to Max Mosley on both occasions. It was clear to both Balestre and Mosley, and agreed by the FIA General Assembly upon proposition that there was no need for two federations, and subsequent to Mosley's FIA election, FISA was abolished in structural changes, bringing all motorsport under the control of the World Motor Sport Council.
In 1998, amidst the European Commission investigation, the FIA moved its headquarters to
Geneva
Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
, Switzerland, outside the jurisdiction of the commission. In 2001, the FIA moved back to Paris following the settlement however it retains its office in Geneva.
Also in 1998, the karting commission (CIK) gained some independence, becoming known as the Fédération Mondial de Karting (FMK, also known as FMK-FIA and distinct from separate organisations International Kart Federation and
World Karting Association). However the Federation was short lived and in 2000, reverted to being known as the CIK.
The FIA announced in 2022 the appointment of its first ever CEO, Natalie Robyn. Robyn resigned the position after 18 months and the position remains vacant.
Organisational structure
General Assembly
The General Assembly is the Federation's supreme governing body, consisting of representatives from each of the FIA's member associations. According to the FIA's website, the voting member associations can be automobile and touring clubs (mobility), or national sporting authorities (sport). The website further states that there are 243 organisations spread among 147 countries.
Meetings of the General Assembly are usually held once a year, though extraordinary meetings can be convened for urgent matters. The General Assembly has responsibility for amending the FIA's statutes and regulations, approving the annual budget and reports, deciding upon the membership, and electing the officers and members to the Federation's governing bodies.
Presidency
The head of the FIA and chairman of the General Assembly is the President, a position currently held by
Mohammed bin Sulayem. The President coordinates the activities of the Federation and proposes resolutions to the various commissions and committees and also acts as the representative of the FIA to external organisations. They are supported by two Deputy Presidents and several vice-presidents, each for Sport or Mobility, as well as the President of the FIA Senate. The combined presidency is elected to a four-year term by the General Assembly. Presidential candidates must produce an
electoral list
An electoral list is a grouping of candidates for election, usually found in proportional or mixed electoral systems, but also in some plurality electoral systems. An electoral list can be registered by a political party (a party list) or can c ...
consisting of their proposed Deputy Presidents, vice-presidents for Sport, and the President of the Senate, as well as demonstrate support from a number of member clubs.
World Councils
The FIA has two World Councils. The World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT) governs transport policy, road safety, tourism and environmental concerns. The
World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) regulates all sporting disciplines claimed by the FIA, and approves the regulations for each of the FIA's championships. Beneath the WMSC are a number of specialised commissions, which are either focused on individual championships, or general areas such as safety.
Senate
The FIA Senate generally oversees financial and commercial affairs and general management of the FIA, and can take decisions required between meetings of the relevant committee or World Council.
Administration
Sport and Mobility each have a Secretary General to head the administrative staff who function as intermediaries for the councils, commissions and committees. A Chief Administration Officer also heads areas supporting the Senate such as commercial, legal, marketing, events and financial.
Commissions
A number of commissions exist to further activities or aims within specific areas. Each may have their own presidency and could be broken down into further specific working groups. Individual members may be from member organisations joined by delegates and representatives from various professions or through a related connection such as being a motorsport competitor for example. Alongside the various Sporting and Mobility Commissions, the International Historical Commission exists for the preservation of historic vehicles.
Committees
Ten sports committees have been established by the World Motorsport Council to help manage and administer certain aspects of motorsport. An Ethics committee was also set up in 2012 by the General Assembly.
Judiciary
The FIA's judicial bodies include the International Tribunal, which exercises disciplinary powers that are not dealt with by the meeting
stewards, and the International Court of Appeal. The ICA is the final appeal tribunal for international motor sport, which resolves disputes brought before it by National Sporting Authorities worldwide, or by the President of the FIA. It can also settle non-sporting disputes brought by national motoring organisations affiliated to the FIA.
Sporting governance
FIA World Motor Sport Council
The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has the decision-making responsibility for all motorsport the FIA governs and sanctions. It convenes at least three times a year to decide on rules and regulations proposed to it by the commissions and committees that have direct responsibility of the various disciplines and championships. The WMSC also discusses safety and development of motor sport and steers the commissions and committees through delegated tasks. The council consists of the President of the FIA, the Deputy President for Sport and seven vice-presidents as nominated by the President; five members by right and fourteen further members approved by the General Assembly.
World Championship Commissions
Each of the seven
World Championships report directly to the WMSC, usually to propose amendments to their own rules and regulations.
WMSC Committees
Alongside the Manufacturer's Committee, nine sporting committees report to the WMSC. The committees, shown below in bold, may have their own specialised commissions.
*Single seater
*Circuit Sport
** Drag racing
** Drifting
** Truck racing
** GT
** Touring car
** Electric and new energy championships
** Esports
*Historic motorsport
*Road Sport
** Rally
** Cross-Country rally
** Land speed records
** Hill climb
** Off-road
*Sport Member Clubs
** Volunteers and officials
*Drivers
*Sustainability and D&I
** Sport, Environment & Sustainability
** Sport Disability & Accessibility
** Women in Motorsport
*Homologation regulations
*Technical & Safety
** Circuits
** Closed road
** Medical
2022 ban of Russian and Belarusian teams and competitions
In response to the 2022
Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
, the FIA banned Russia and Belarus teams, and banned the holding of competitions in Russia or Belarus.
It also excluded Russian and Belarusian FIA members from their roles as elected officers or commission members, and banned FIA grants to Russian and Belarusian members.
Individual Russia and Belarus competitors were allowed to enter races as neutrals, without their national symbols, flags, colours and anthems.
The FIA cancelled the 2022 edition of the
Russian Grand Prix in
Sochi
Sochi ( rus, Сочи, p=ˈsotɕɪ, a=Ru-Сочи.ogg, from – ''seaside'') is the largest Resort town, resort city in Russia. The city is situated on the Sochi (river), Sochi River, along the Black Sea in the North Caucasus of Souther ...
, initially scheduled for 25 September.
The FIA also terminated the Russian contract to host the race.
FIA World Championships
The true history of
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
began in the
1946 season with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobiles (FIA's) standardisation of rules for
Formula One car
A Formula One car or F1 car is a single-seat, open-cockpit, open-wheel racing car, open-wheel formula racing car used to compete in Formula One racing events. It has substantial front and rear wings, large wheels, and a turbocharged engine mid ...
s in
Grand Prix racing. The first Grand Prix in accordance with this new regulations was the
1946 Turin Grand Prix. Then in the
1950 season, the FIA organised the first
World Championship for Drivers. From the
1958 season, a
World Constructors' Championship title was introduced, named from the 1958 season to the
1980 season officially as the ''International Cup for Formula One Constructors''. Formula One originated from the
World Manufacturers' Championship (
1925
Events January
* January 1 – The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria (1925–1930), State of Syria.
* January 3 – Benito Mussolini m ...
–
1930) and
European Drivers' Championship (
1931
Events
January
* January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics.
* January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa.
* January 22 – Sir I ...
–
1939
This year also marks the start of the World War II, Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history.
Events
Events related to World War II have a "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 1
** Coming into effect in Nazi Ger ...
) which were organised by the ''AIACR'' (''The Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus'').
The
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance racing series run for sports car racing, sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), from 1953 World Sportscar Championship, 1953 t ...
was created in the
1953 season, and was the first world championship for
sports cars
A sports car is a type of automobile that is designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling, acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving, and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1910s and ar ...
in
endurance racing. The official name of the championship frequently varied throughout the period and from the 1962 season to the 1971 season the championship was officially known as the ''International Championship''. The championship was solely for manufacturers up to the
1981 season when a Drivers Championship title was introduced. From the 1953 season to the 1984 season, titles were awarded to ''manufacturers'' of sports cars belonging to two main categories:
sports prototype
A sports prototype, sometimes referred to simply as a prototype, is a type of Auto racing, race car that is used in high-level categories of sports car racing. They are purpose-built auto-sports race cars, as opposed to production-car based or s ...
s (except for the 1978 to 1981 seasons) and
GT cars (except for the 1953 to 1961 seasons and the 1982 season). From the 1985 season to the 1992 season, titles were awarded only to ''teams'' entering sports prototypes (instead of ''manufacturers'' of sports prototypes), excluding ''teams'' entering GT cars. After the
1992 season the World Sportscar Championship was cancelled and dissolved, revived again in the
2012 season under the new name as the
FIA World Endurance Championship
The FIA World Endurance Championship, abbreviated as WEC, is a world championship for automobile endurance racing organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The se ...
.
In the
1973 season, the FIA organised the first
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship (abbreviated as WRC) is an international rallying series owned and governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA. Inaugurated in 1973, it is the oldest FIA world championship after Formula One. E ...
beginning with the
42nd Rally of Monte-Carlo to replace the
International Championship for Manufacturers. Initially the championship was solely for manufacturers. In the
1977
Events January
* January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group.
* January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...
and
1978
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...
seasons, an ''FIA Cup for Drivers'' was included before a Driver's Championship title was introduced in the
1979 season.
In the
1987 season, the FIA sanctioned the
World Touring Car Championship
The FIA World Touring Car Championship was an international touring car championship promoted by Eurosport Events and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It has had several different incarnations, including a sing ...
. Initially a one-off series for
touring car racing
Touring car racing is a motorsport road racing competition that uses race-prepared touring cars. It has both similarities to and significant differences from stock car racing, which is popular in the United States.
While the cars do not move a ...
, the title was revived in the
2005 season and discontinued at the end of the
2017 season.
In the
2010 season, the
SRO Group introduced the
FIA GT1 World Championship
The FIA GT1 World Championship was a world championship sports car racing series, developed by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation, SRO Group and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), that was held from 2010 to 2012. I ...
, which was a championship consisting of one-hour sprint races for
GT cars. This world championship ended in the
2012 season. After a switch to GT3 cars in 2012 the series became known as the ''FIA GT Series'' in the
2013 season.
After the ''
Automobile Club de l'Ouest
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (English: Automobile Club of the West), sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organ ...
'' (ACO) successfully organised the
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) in the
2010
The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...
and
2011
The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...
seasons, the FIA and ACO organised together the rebirth of the defunct
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance racing series run for sports car racing, sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), from 1953 World Sportscar Championship, 1953 t ...
(which was cancelled after the
1992 season) for both
sports prototype
A sports prototype, sometimes referred to simply as a prototype, is a type of Auto racing, race car that is used in high-level categories of sports car racing. They are purpose-built auto-sports race cars, as opposed to production-car based or s ...
s and
GT cars from the
2012 season onward, now officially known as the
FIA World Endurance Championship
The FIA World Endurance Championship, abbreviated as WEC, is a world championship for automobile endurance racing organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The se ...
(WEC).
Starting in
2022 season, the FIA and
FIM jointly sanctioned the
World Rally-Raid Championship. With the
Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) acting as promotor and organiser; the separate cross-country rallying series sanctioned by the FIA and FIM were dissolved and merged into the new World Championship.
Key:
Mobility and tourism
Carnet de Passages en Douane
In 1913, the AIACR created the Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD), allowing motorists to cross international borders into signatory territories for temporary periods without customs tariffs, duties or taxes payable on their personal vehicles. The CPD works like an insurance product, customs are guaranteed to be paid by the issuer if the vehicle does not leave the country within the specified time. Under the terms of the United Nations Customs Convention, only the FIA and the
Alliance Internationale de Tourisme
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not an explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are call ...
(AIT) may authorise carnet issuers.
NCAP Programmes
The FIA was a founder member of the
European New Car Assessment Programme, a
car safety
Automotive safety is the study and practice of automotive design, construction, equipment and regulation to minimize the occurrence and consequences of traffic collisions involving motor vehicles. Road traffic safety more broadly includes roadw ...
programme that crash-tests new models and publishes safety reports on vehicles. Mosley was the first chairman of the organisation. The FIA later helped establish the
Latin NCAP,
ASEAN NCAP
The New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asia, or known as ASEAN NCAP, is an automobile safety rating program jointly established by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCA ...
and
Global NCAP.
Initiatives
FIA Foundation
The FIA Foundation was established in 2001 as the FIA's charitable arm.
A registered charity in the United Kingdom, the
foundation received a US$300 million grant from the sale of Formula One's rights to fund research into road safety, the environmental impact of motoring, and to support sustainable motoring.
The
Make Roads Safe campaign was set up in 2006 by the FIA Foundation, targeting the creation of safe roads across the world.
Critics see it as a tool of the
motor industry to increase the acceptability of car-based traffic solutions while blocking alternatives.
Sport
Following the
1994 San Marino Grand Prix, which saw the deaths of
Ayrton Senna and
Roland Ratzenberger, the FIA formed an Expert Advisory Safety Committee to research and improve safety in motor racing.
Chaired by Formula One medical chief Professor
Sid Watkins, the committee worked with the
Motor Industry Research Association
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into motion (physics), mechanical energy.
Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroe ...
to strengthen the crash resistance of cars and the restraint systems and to improve drivers' personal safety.
The recommendations of the committee led to significantly more stringent
crash tests for racing vehicles, new safety standards for helmets and race suits, and the eventual introduction of the
HANS device
A HANS device (head and neck support device) is a type of head restraint and a safety device in motorsports. Head restraints are mandatory when competing with most major motorsports sanctioning bodies. They reduce the likelihood of head or neck ...
as compulsory in all international racing series. The committee also worked on improving circuit safety. This led to a number of changes at motor racing circuits around the world, and the improvement of crash barriers and trackside medical procedures.
FIA Institute
The FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety was established in 2004 with the focus of improving safety in motor sport, bringing together the various safety research groups into one organisation.
It ceased prior to the 2017 motor sport season, with the Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety taking on its aims.
The
FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy begun in 2011 with the aim of developing driver talent worldwide. It ceased functioning after the 2015 season.
Controversies
Formula One
FISA–FOCA war (1970s—1980s)
The CSI determined the regulations and calendar of the major international championships, such as the
Formula One
Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
World Championship,
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance racing series run for sports car racing, sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), from 1953 World Sportscar Championship, 1953 t ...
and
European Rally Championship
The European Rally Championship (officially FIA European Rally Championship) is an rallying, automobile rally competition held annually on the European continent and organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
The champion ...
. Meanwhile, the organisers of the individual races (for example local or national clubs) were responsible for accepting entries, paying prize money, and the general running of each event.
In Formula One, this led to tension between the teams, which formed themselves into the
Formula One Constructors Association
The Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA) was an organization of the chassis builders (constructors) who design and build the cars that race in the FIA Formula One World Championship. It evolved from the earlier ''Formula 1 Constructors ...
(FOCA) founded in 1974, event organisers and the CSI. The FIA and CSI were largely amateur organisations,
and FOCA under the control of
Bernie Ecclestone
Bernard Charles Ecclestone (born 28 October 1930) is a British business magnate, motorsport executive and former racing driver. Widely known in journalism as the "F1 Supremo", Ecclestone founded the Formula One Group in 1987, controlling the c ...
began to take charge of various aspects of organising the events, as well as setting terms with race organisers for the arrival of teams and the amount of prize money.
This led to the FIA President Prince Metternich attempting to reassert its authority by appointing
Jean-Marie Balestre as the head of the CSI in 1978, who promptly reformed the committee into the autonomous Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA).
Under Balestre's leadership FISA and the manufacturer-backed teams became involved in a dispute with FOCA (named the "
FISA–FOCA war
The FISA–FOCA war was a political battle contested throughout the early 1980s by two now-defunct representative organizations in Formula One motor racing, the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) and the Formula One Construct ...
"). The conflict saw several races being cancelled or boycotted, and large-scale disagreement over the technical regulations and their enforcement. The dispute and the
Concorde Agreement that was written to end it, would have significant ramifications for the FIA. The agreement led to FOCA acquiring commercial rights over Formula One, while FISA and the FIA would have control over sport's regulations. FOCA chief Bernie Ecclestone became an FIA Vice-president with control over promoting the FIA's World Championships, while FOCA legal advisor and former
March Engineering
March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better success in other categories ...
manager
Max Mosley
Max Rufus Mosley (13 April 1940 – 23 May 2021) was a British businessman, lawyer and racing driver. He served as president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the Sport governing body, governing body for Formula One.
A ...
would end up becoming FISA President in 1991. Mosley succeeded Balestre as President of the FIA in 1993 and restructured the organisation, dissolving FISA and placing motor racing under the direct management of the FIA.
Breakaway series (2000s)
During the 2000s, the FIA and its president became increasingly embroiled in controversy over Formula One, while facing threats from teams to establish a breakaway series. A grouping of the car manufacturers involved in F1, the
Grand Prix Manufacturers Association, proposed a
new world championship, which would allow them greater control over the regulations and revenue distribution. A new Concorde Agreement eventually ended the threat, but the breakaway series would resurface during each dispute between the FIA, teams and the Formula One Group. The FIA's handling of the tyre situation at the
2005 United States Grand Prix was criticised. Mosley had refused any modification to the circuit or the holding of a non-championship event in place of the Grand Prix, having stated that running on an untested circuit was unsafe. The FIA also threatened to punish the teams who withdrew from the event, but later cleared the teams of any wrongdoing.
2007 Formula One espionage
In 2007 and 2008 the FIA was criticised on two issues. The
2007 Formula One espionage controversy involved accusations against McLaren, who were accused of stealing technological secrets from Ferrari. Commenting on how the FIA handled the situation,
Martin Brundle
Martin John Brundle (born 1 June 1959) is a British former racing driver and sports broadcasting, broadcaster who competed in Formula One from to . In endurance racing (motorsport), endurance racing, Brundle won the World Sportscar Champions ...
wrote a column in ''
The Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
'' titled "Witch-hunt threatens to spoil world title race" in which he accused the FIA of a witch-hunt against
McLaren
McLaren Racing Limited ( ) is a British auto racing, motor racing team based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. The team is a subsidiary of the McLaren Group, which owns a majority of the team. McLaren is best known a ...
. The World Motor Sport Council responded by issuing a
writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warrant (legal), Warrants, prerogative writs, subpoenas, and ''certiorari'' are commo ...
against ''The Sunday Times'' alleging libel. Brundle responded by saying "I have earned the right to have an opinion", and suggested the writ was a "warning sign to other journalists".
FIA–FOTA war (2000s—2010s)
The FIA–FOTA dispute was a series of clashes between the FIA and the now defunct Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) over proposed changes to the rules and regulations for the 2010 Formula One season. The debate began over the introduction of a budget cap and escalated until the eve of the 2009 British Grand Prix with the FOTA teams announcing their intention to form their own rival breakaway series. The FIA in response began an entry process for new teams. From that point onwards, the dispute was negotiated to the point at which a new Concorde Agreement was signed in August 2009, with the budget cap replaced by a series of cost-cutting measures.
European Commission investigation
The
Competition Directorate of the
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...
and the FIA were involved in a dispute over the commercial administration of motorsport during the 1990s. The Competition Commissioner,
Karel Van Miert had received a number of complaints from television companies and motorsport promoters in 1997 that the FIA had been abusing its position as motorsport's governing body.
Van Miert's initial inquiry had not concluded by 1999,
which resulted in the FIA suing the European Commission, alleging that the delay was causing damaging uncertainty, and successfully receiving an apology from the Commission over the leaking of documents relating to the case.
Mario Monti
Mario Monti (; born 19 March 1943) is an Italian politician, economist and academic who served as the Prime Minister of Italy from 2011 to 2013, leading a Technocratic government (Italy), technocratic government in the wake of the European sov ...
took over as Commissioner in 1999, and the
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...
opened a formal investigation into the FIA.
The Commission alleged a number of breaches of
European competition law, centred around the FIA's administration of licences required to participate in motorsport and the control of television rights of the motorsport events it authorised.
In order to compete in events the FIA authorised, the competitor had to apply for a licence, which prohibited licensees from entering a series not controlled by the FIA. This provision, which also applied to
racing circuits and promoters, prevented rival championships competing against the FIA championships by restricting their access to facilities, drivers, and vehicle manufacturers.
In addition, the FIA also claimed the television rights to all international motorsport events, which were then transferred to
International Sportsworld Communicators, a company controlled by Ecclestone.
This meant organisers were forced into having their championships promoted by the same company that managed the affairs of other motorsport events, a potential
conflict of interest
A conflict of interest (COI) is a situation in which a person or organization is involved in multiple wikt:interest#Noun, interests, financial or otherwise, and serving one interest could involve working against another. Typically, this relates t ...
. The combination of these requirements meant Ecclestone's
Formula One Administration, which now controlled Formula One's commercial rights, was protected from competition from any rival championships.
The investigation was closed in 2001 after the FIA and FOA agreed to a number of conditions.
In order to fairly regulate all international motorsport, the FIA agreed to limit its role to that of a sporting regulator, and would sell the commercial rights to its championships, including Formula One.
This was to prevent a conflict of interest between the FIA's regulatory role and any commercial advantages it may gain from the success of certain championships.
The FIA could no longer prevent non-FIA administered events from being established, neither could it use its powers to prevent competition to Formula One.
Ecclestone and FOA would no longer handle the commercial rights to other motorsport events outside of Formula One.
Ecclestone had sold the ISC company, which now only controlled the rights to rallying, and would stand down from his role as an FIA Vice-president.
As a result of this ruling, the FIA sold the commercial rights to Formula One to the Formula One Group for 100 years for $360 million.
Max Mosley sex scandal
In 2008, accusations surfaced in the British media that FIA president Max Mosley was involved in scandalous sexual behaviour. In response, Mosley faced a leadership challenge in a vote of confidence at the June 2008 General Assembly. Mosley won the vote by 103 votes in support to 55 against, resulting in the retention of Mosley as president. However he continued to face criticism from several motoring clubs and motorsport figures. Germany's
ADAC
The ADAC, officially the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (), is Europe's largest automobile association. The ADAC is the largest wikt:Verein, ''verein'' (club) in Germany, with around 21 million members. Its headquarters are located i ...
(the largest European FIA member), announced, "We view with regret and incredulity the FIA general assembly's decision in Paris, confirming Max Mosley in office as FIA president". It froze all its activities with the FIA until Mosley left office.
See also
*
FIA Prize Giving Ceremony
*
List of FIA championships
*
List of FIA member organisations
*
FIA Motorsport Games
The FIA Motorsport Games is a biennial motorsport event administered by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It includes competitions from multiple motorsport disciplines and is entered by national motorsport authorities under t ...
*
FIA Hall of Fame
*
FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy
*
Commission Internationale de Karting
The Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK; English: International Karting Commission), also known as the CIK-FIA, is the primary governing body for international kart racing. Founded in 1962, it is one of seven World Championship commission ...
Footnotes
References
External links
*
FIA Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Federation Internationale De L'automobile
Auto racing organizations
Formula One
International organizations based in France
Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations
Organizations based in Paris
Sports organizations established in 1904
1904 establishments in Europe
1904 establishments in Asia
1904 establishments in Africa
1904 establishments in North America
1904 establishments in South America
1904 establishments in Oceania
Motorsport governing bodies