The four international governing bodies in motor sport FAI (air sports), FIA (automobile), UIM (power boating) and FIM (motorcycling) gathered recently at the "House of Motorcycling" in Mies, Switzerland.

Positive discussions took place with the aim of increasing the level of collaboration and capitalising on synergies across all disciplines of motorised sport.

The governing bodies already work together in several capacities, including the joint organisation of events such as cross-country rallies, homologation of equipment, legislation that governs common aspects of the sports and advocacy for social responsibilities. Each organisation expressed a strong desire to bolster and grow these existing projects.

A number of new key areas of common interest were also identified, which the federations will focus on to strengthen the entire sporting landscape. These include the potential to work more closely on the development of safety equipment and best practices, the commitment towards a more environmentally sustainable future, the development of sustainable powertrain technology, improving the inclusivity of the sport, and creating common competitor education programmes.

With so many areas for positive collaboration, the organisations will continue to work at both a governance and operational level to build on the foundations set out in this initial meeting.

Pierre Duval, FAI Environment Commission President, said: “With lightning speed evolution of technologies, our E-powered sports can more easily find common grounds for attracting new crowds as participants and spectators. We are delighted to join forces with other international federations to promote through sport the use of cleaner energies for the world and make sure we all run our activities in the most efficient and safe manner without wasting our sportsmen and sponsors time and money replicating tasks. This evolution will allow us to better work together with authorities, organisers and media for offering the public new experiences in an environmentally friendly format.”

Graham Stoker, FIA Deputy President for Sport, said: “It has been a long term objective to bring together our global organisations and set out a pathway for closer collaboration. The same passion and drive is at the heart of all our disciplines, and we face many of the same challenges every day. Working more diligently together will have benefits for all – the organisers, competitors, sponsors and fans – and I believe the goals we have set out will result in safer, more environmentally conscious, more exciting and more inclusive sport for everyone to enjoy.”

Vito Ippolito, FIM President, said: “It is essential to have a platform between organisations with close synergies. In each of our sports, we are constantly seeking to innovate in order to enhance fan experience, competition structures and general development. The exchange with my fellow counterparts underlined the cooperation already existing among international motor sport federations such as between the FIA and the FIM that share circuits and work on safety or public affairs together and we will continue these relationships in the future.”

Raffaelle Chiulli, UIM President, said: “As ARISF and UIM President I am very pleased of such a constructive cooperation among all motorsport IF's.I am convinced that jointly we can more effectively raise awareness on environment, alternative energies and sustainable development, promote environmental responsibility in all motorsports events, develop environmental friendly technologies and solutions and exchange best practices and know-how without having to reinvent the wheel.”

Photo credit: FIA