The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has a new president. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who was elected with 61.6% of the votes at the annual general assembly, will take up the office.
A former rally driver, the 60-year-old Emirati is the first non-European to take up the post. Until now, the FIA vice-president for the Middle East region, defeated the 36.62% of the other candidate, the British Graham Stoker, 69, FIA deputy president of sport, with 1.76% abstention.
He has been president of the Emirates Motor Sport Organization (Emso) since 2005, and former vice-president of the FIA World Motor Sport Council for the Middle East.
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Mohammed campaigned under the slogan FIA for Members, pledging to double participation in motorsports worldwide, to strengthen diversity and inclusion, and to be a thought leader on sustainable mobility.
Renovation Phase
Sulayem aims to modernize the FIA and make it more transparent. He promises an external audit on governance, evaluation of finances and transparent budget reporting.
“You can never say that our governance is sufficient. There is always room for improvement, if we are not outperformed,” the new president said at a press conference after his election.
“I am committed to continuing the important work and taking motorsport and mobility new steps forward,” he added.
Task Force
The representative also wants to appoint a CEO at the head of the body for day-to-day management, a position that did not exist before.
On the sporting side, his idea is to double world motorsport participation by 2025, especially by opening it up to young people with the inclusion of cross-cars and go-karts.
He appointed Carmelo Sanz de Barros as Senate President; Robert Reid as Vice President for Sports; and Tim Shearman as Vice President for Mobility.
Also on Ben Sulayem’s eleven-person team list is Fabiana Ecclestone, a Brazilian lawyer and wife of Bernie Ecclestone, former CEO and promoter of Formula 1, who becomes Vice President for South America.
Written by I Jhonattan González
