FIA AMERICA2009-2011 SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMMES

José F. Abed, FIA Sport America Vice-president29/07/2011

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

Contents:

• 2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes in America

– Past and present Fund supported Safety Training Progammes over the last three years

– Achievements and objectives

• 2012 and the future

– Existing programmes

– Projects

• Development of the Motor Sport in America

• America in the FIA Structure

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

Over the last three years, in the Americas, funding was been approved for:

Costa Rica, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Mexico, United States, Nicaragua, Uruguay, and Brazil.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

This represents 26 grants and €2,340,257.

Only three project were cancelled after approval so the adjusted numbers are 23 with €1,751,501, which is approximately 20% of the total funding.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

The Programmes have been distributed as:

– 10 Young Driver Safety Training Programmes

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

- 9 Officials Safety Training Programmes

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

– 4 Facilities Improvement Programmes

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

In total there have been 124 approved programmes across the world, with America represented 1/5 of the total number of programmes.

In the future, this number will surely be increased, shaping the oustanding contribution of the FIA Institute to the development of Morot Sport in the continent .

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

Development of Motor Sport in America

The improved positions of America within Motor Sport in the last three years, can be observed in all areas. An increasing number of FIA-sanctioned events in the continent or the involvement of a greater number of officials within the FIA organisation.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

The CODASUR and NACAM Rally Championships belong to the FIA Regional Rally Championships, and run events across most countries of the continent under full FIA regulations.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

After the traditional Canadian and Brazilian Formula One GPs, a new venue for the FIA Formula One World Championship, the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, is being developed.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

Also, two American countries formerly part of the Formula One calendar are evaluating plans which could see both become capable of holding F1 races again.

Argentina and Mexico last held F1 races in 1998 and 1992 respectively, hosting 35 rounds of the world championship between them.

Populous, the architects behind Silverstone’s revised track and new pits, have won a bid to develop an FIA Grade 1 circuit in Argentina, which would be capable of holding F1 and Moto GP races. The Velociudad Argentina circuit will be built in Zarate, close to the capital city Buenos Aires. A 5.5km track is planned.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

Also, FIA Safety Delegate Mr. Charlie Whiting recently visited and inspected the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City with a view to the circuit being prepared for FIA Grade 1 status.

The National Sporting Authorities were given details of the changes they would have to make in order for it to be able to host an F1 race.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

Since 2008, a FIA-style prize giving ceremony has been organised for the FIA American championships at the end of each season.

In 2010 and for the next four years, this event will take place in Panama, which is placed in the middle of the continent.

After this period it is hoped that further countries will apply to host the event in the future.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

Motor Sport is constantly growing and that same rhythm and the Americas have been doing so at the same speed as the rest of the world in recent times. Drivers from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica that Mexico, United States, Canada, Colombia, Venezuela and Guatemala are in the international series, all have the possibility in the short term to move up to one day to Formula One, or others to US NASCAR and Formula Indy.

It is not difficult to see in series like British Formula 3 in all categories,  Ford F-1.800 in the Euroseries, Formula BMW  in Germany and America, Formula 2.000, the GP-3 and GP-2, the Renault World Series , Formula Atlantic in Indy Lights, American drives, with a lot of talent, breaking into a difficult environment with lots of courage and bravery, aiming to become stars in their own rights.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

All these drivers come from categories in from ASNs. For example, in Argentina Touring Cars 2000 and Formula 2000; in Costa Rica there are championships of Touring Cars and single seaters, similar to Formula Three; in Guatemala Touring Car races are popular; in Venezuela GT and Single Seaters are popular.

In Mexico there is a Formula 2000, involving Venezuelan drivers who perform well, it is also the Mexican series that produced Columbian Juan Pablo Montoya before his move to F1, the Canadian Allen Berg did likewise.

Also in Mexico, stock cars are popular, in the 1990s International Formula Three took place and with a rich set of drivers became one of the most important series in the world of racing.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

In the United States, the popularity of NASCAR, and its subdivisions Spirit, Nationwide, and Trucks, without forgetting the regional events. The drivers are exceptionally talented with unique qualities,

Formula Indy with its blue ribbon event the Indy 500 of Indianapolis, it is considered the most watched race in the world, always the last Sunday of May, taking place at the same time as the Monaco Grand Prix.

To feed these events, there is Formula Barber, BMW, Atlantic, and Indy Lights. And in NASCAR there are the regional events which are well know and from where many of the current drivers have come.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

Best of all, there are achievements. A good example is Mexican Sergio Pérez already a points winner in F1 Grand Prix Racing , coming to the series are outstanding results in karting, then the US Formula Barber, German Formula BMW, British Formula Three, where the was B division champion and the International champion,  an incredible triumph. Then in GP2, runner up with five wins, second to another F1 rookie  Pastor Maldonado, Venezuela.

In 2012, there is a strong possibility F1 will return to this part of the continent. In the United States is a given, a new course is under construction in Austin, Texas. And in Mexico, the probability is the Speedway Sports City, which was inspected by the FIA  and is soon due to start implementing improvements.. This would help further grow enthusiasm for the sport in the Americas and continue to narrow the gap with Europe. The big talents are not simply confined to single countries, they are now evolving to the world level.

FIA AMERICA2009-2011 Safety Training Programmes

Motor racing is an important sport. On top of the audiences at the circuit, TV coverage is growing and increasingly important.

Millions of people watch Grand Prix Racing, the same for NASCAR or Indy Racing. Not many other sports have the same reach.

For this reason , the American continent is involved in the sport, and thanks to the help of supporters, clubs and institutions like the FIA Institute, together we will work to continue to grow.