The
Governing Council of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) has
nominated Akbar Ebrahim as India’s Deputy representative in the Federation
Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA). Ebrahim has not only got tremendous hands
on experience as a rally driver but as a coach also for race drivers.
The
decision to nominate Ebrahim was endorsed
by FMSCI Chairman Dr Vijay Mallya. Subsequently, FIA was informed of the
decision. Dr Mallya is the Titular Delegate of India and a member of the
prestigious World Motor Sports Council of the FIA, which is responsible for all
aspects of international motor sport at every level from karting to Formula One,
according to a press release from FMSCI.
Ebrahim
has replaced Vicky Chandhok in the role and will represent the FMSCI to lend a
hand to Dr Mallya in the FIA.
Thanking
the FMSCI’s decision, Ebrahim said: “While my predecessor worked hard to get F1
to India, my priority now would be to get more Indians into F1 and its likes.
We are going to work hard to create opportunities for our sportspersons to step
out and take on the world. We’ll make sincere efforts to align with global best
practices and avail all possible assistance from international associates.
“India
has all that is required for our kids and our sport to unleash, and what we
need to do now is to package and present our case to the world. To start the
campaign, we need to lead the charge in the Asian Region.”
Ebrahim
had recently met FIA President Jean Todt at the FIA Asia Pacific Region Motor
Sport Forum in Sri Lanka, where Todt had drawn everyone’s attention to FIA’s
taskforce that is currently in operation in the Asia Pacific region.
“The
idea behind this initiative is to interact, assist and coordinate between motor
sports federations in this region,” said Ebrahim, adding that “The Forum gave
the confidence that there is a genuine consensus in the FIA to study and work
with the ASN’s (National Sports Association) on common perspectives as well as
individual requirements.
“Some
of the key areas that the Forum discussed were driver development, training of
officials such as Race Director, Clerk of Course, Stewards, Time keepers,
karting at grassroots level, singular Asia Pacific events, among others.”
Ebrahim
said the FMSCI has offered to host a part of the next Officials’ training
programme for the FIA Asia Pacific region.
During
his brief interaction with Todt, Ebrahim assured the FIA President that the
FMSCI would strive to introduce the new FIA Formula 4 racing car as the first
level junior international racing car in India, and would implement FIA’s
Action for Road Safety, a programme promoted by FIA worldwide.
PS:
Attached a photograph of Mr Akbar Ebrahim (right) seen along with Mr Vicky
Chandhok during the FMSCI Annual awards earlier this year.
Source: FMSCI / Photograph of Ebrahim (Right)
with his predecessor Vicky Chandhok