Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been elected the new president of the FIA, the world motorsport’s governing body.
Facing opposition from outgoing president Jean Todt’s former deputy Graham Stoker, ben Sulayem received 61.62% of votes. He will start his new role immediately.
His deputy will be 2001 World Rally Champion co-driver Robert Reid.
“I am very honored to have been elected FIA president at the conclusion of the annual General Assembly in Paris,” said Ben Sulayem, whose team also includes Carmelo Sanz de Barros (president of the Senate) and Tim Shearman (deputy president for mobility).
The votes are in and we’ve won! We are thrilled that 62% of all clubs have given us their vote. We are truly humbled. The support from you will help us build a stronger federation. pic.twitter.com/pA5NAlUaJi
— fiaformembers (@fiaformembers) December 17, 2021
“I thank all the member clubs for their esteem and trust. I congratulate Graham for his campaign and his engagement to the Federation.
“I wish to express my infinite gratitude in the name of the FIA and that of its members to Jean Todt for all that has been achieved over the past 12 years.
“I am committed to pursuing the important work and make motorsport and mobility take further steps forward.”
Ben Sulayem, a 14-time Middle East Rally Champion, was first elected to the World Motor Sport Council in 2008, assuming the role of vice president for sport until 2013.
That year he was appointed as chairman of the FIA’s Motor Sport Development Task Force, which was given the aim of growing motorsport sustainably over the following 10 years.
Now elected as FIA president, his main pledges are to double worldwide motorsport participation, improve diversity and inclusion within all areas of motorsport, and to be a leader in driving motorsport further towards a sustainable future.
