Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile

Abbreviation	FIA
Formation	20 June 1904; 121 years ago (1904-06-20) (as AIACR)
Type	Non-profit
Legal status	International association
Purpose	Motorists' issues Motorsports
Headquarters	Place de la Concorde
Location	Paris, France
Region served	International
Membership	240 national organisations
Official language	English French Spanish
President	Mohammed Ben Sulayem
CEO	Vacant
Single Seater Director	Nikolas Tombazis
Sporting Director	Vacant
Main organ	General Assembly
Affiliations	FIA Institute FIA Foundation International Olympic Committee World Health Organization Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development World Tourism Organization UN Environment Programme Automobile Club de l'Ouest

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is a big international group. It was started on June 20, 1904. Its main job is to look after the interests of car clubs and people who drive cars.

The FIA is also the main boss for many auto racing events. This includes famous races like Formula One. Besides racing, the FIA works hard to make roads safer for everyone around the world.

Its main office is in Paris, France, at 8 Place de la Concorde. The FIA has 243 member groups in 147 countries. The current president is Mohammed bin Sulayem. Even though its name is French, most people know it as FIA.

The FIA's most important role is to give licenses and approve big racing events. These include the Formula One World Championship, World Rally Championship, and Formula E. The FIA also helps check land speed record attempts. The International Olympic Committee officially recognized the FIA in 2013.

History of the FIA

The FIA started in Paris on June 20, 1904. Back then, it was called the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR). It was a group of national car clubs. Its goal was to help car users and manage the growing world of motorsport.

In 1922, the AIACR created a special committee. This committee was called the Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI). It was in charge of setting the rules for international Grand Prix motor racing. In 1931, they started the European Drivers' Championship. This award went to the driver with the best results in certain Grand Prix races.

After World War II, the AIACR changed its name to the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA then created new types of racing. These included Formula One and Formula Two. In 1950, they started the first World Championship, the Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

FIA's Role in Racing

The CSI decided the rules and race dates for major championships. These included the Formula One World Championship and the World Sportscar Championship. Local clubs usually organized the races, handled entries, and paid prize money.

In Formula One, this led to some disagreements. The racing teams formed a group called the Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) in 1974. The FIA and CSI were mostly volunteer groups. FOCA, led by Bernie Ecclestone, started taking over parts of race organization. This caused tension with the FIA.

To fix this, the FIA appointed Jean-Marie Balestre to lead the CSI in 1978. He changed the committee into a new, independent group called the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA).

Resolving Disputes and Safety Changes

Under Balestre, FISA and the car manufacturers had a big dispute with FOCA. This argument was called the "FISA–FOCA war". Some races were canceled, and there were big disagreements about rules.

To end the dispute, a special agreement was made. It was called the Concorde Agreement. This agreement gave FOCA control over the business side of Formula One. FISA and the FIA would control the racing rules. Bernie Ecclestone became an FIA Vice-President. Max Mosley became FISA President in 1991.

Mosley took over as President of the FIA in 1993. He changed the organization. He closed FISA and put all motorsport directly under the FIA's control.

After the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, where two drivers died, the FIA focused on safety. They created an Expert Advisory Safety Committee. This committee worked to make cars safer and improve driver protection. They made crash tests much stricter for racing cars. They also set new safety rules for helmets and race suits. This led to the HANS device becoming required in all international races. The committee also improved safety at race tracks.

The FIA also helped start the European New Car Assessment Programme. This program crash-tests new cars and shares safety reports. The FIA later helped create similar programs in other parts of the world.

Changes in Leadership

In 2001, the FIA Foundation was created. This is the FIA's charity group. It uses money from selling Formula One rights to research road safety and the environment. In 2004, they started the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety.

Jean Todt, a former boss of the Ferrari racing team, became the new President of the FIA in 2009. He served three terms. In 2021, Mohammed Ben Sulayem became the new president.

Recent Events

In 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the FIA made some decisions. They banned Russian and Belarusian teams from competitions. They also stopped holding races in Russia or Belarus. Individual drivers from these countries could still race, but only as neutral athletes. This meant they could not use their national symbols. The FIA also canceled the 2022 Russian Grand Prix.

FIA World Championships

The FIA organizes many exciting world championships. Here are some of the most important ones:

• Formula One World Championship: This is the top level of single-seater racing. It started in 1950 for drivers and 1958 for constructors (the teams that build the cars).
• World Rally Championship: This championship involves racing on different types of roads, like gravel, snow, and asphalt. It started for manufacturers in 1973 and for drivers in 1979.
• FIA World Endurance Championship: This series features long-distance races with sports cars. It began in 2012 for both drivers and manufacturers.
• Formula E World Championship: This is a championship for electric open-wheel racing cars. It became a World Championship in 2020.
• FIA World Rallycross Championship: This championship combines rally racing with circuit racing on mixed surfaces. It started in 2014.

Here is a table showing some of the FIA World Championships:

How the FIA is Organized

Headquarters of the FIA at the Place de la Concorde

The FIA has a clear structure to manage its many activities.

General Assembly

This is the highest decision-making body of the FIA. It includes representatives from all the FIA's member groups. These groups can be car clubs or national sports authorities. The FIA website says there are 244 such groups in 146 countries.

The General Assembly usually meets once a year. They approve budgets, change rules, and elect leaders.

Presidency

The President is the head of the FIA. They lead the General Assembly and coordinate all the FIA's work. The current President is Mohammed bin Sulayem. The President is supported by Deputy Presidents and Vice-Presidents. They are all elected for a four-year term.

World Councils

The FIA has two main World Councils:

• Mobility and Automobile Council: This council handles non-sporting issues. These include road safety, tourism, and environmental concerns related to cars.
• World Motor Sport Council (WMSC): This council manages all sporting events. It writes the rules for every FIA championship. It also oversees Karting.

Commissions

The FIA has many commissions. These groups focus on specific areas. They help carry out the FIA's goals. Some commissions focus on individual championships, like the World Rally Championship. Others focus on general areas, like safety or historic motorsport.

Here are some of the sporting commissions:

Judiciary

The FIA has special bodies to handle disputes and rule-breaking. The International Tribunal deals with disciplinary matters. The International Court of Appeal is the final court for international motor sport. It settles disagreements from national sports authorities or the FIA President.

Presidents of the FIA

Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR)
Term	President	Nationality
1904–1931	Baron Étienne van Zuylen van Nyevelt	Belgium
1931–1936	Count Robert de Vogüé	France
1936–1946	Viscount Jehan de Rohan-Chabot	France
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
Term	President	Nationality
1946–1958	Jehan de Rohan-Chabot	France
1958–1963	Count Hadelin de Liedekerke-Beaufort	Belgium
1963–1965	Filippo Caracciolo	Italy
1965–1971	Wilfred Andrews	United Kingdom
1971–1975	Prince Amaury de Merode	Belgium
1975–1985	Prince Paul Alfons Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg	Austria
1985–1993	Jean-Marie Balestre	France
1993–2009	Max Mosley	United Kingdom
2009–2021	Jean Todt	France
2021–present	Mohammed Ben Sulayem	United Arab Emirates

FIA Hall of Fame

The FIA Hall of Fame celebrates racing drivers, technicians, and engineers. These are people who have made huge contributions to motor racing. The Hall of Fame was started by the FIA in 2017.

FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy

In October 2010, the FIA started a new program. It's called the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy. This program helps young drivers from all over the world develop their racing skills.

See also

In Spanish: Federación Internacional del Automóvil para niños

• FIA Prize Giving Ceremony
• List of FIA championships
• List of FIA member organisations
• FIA Motorsport Games