NEW DELHI: India lost its seat on the almighty World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) of the FIA for the first time in more than three decades.
Incumbent Gautam Singhania lost in the elections for 14 WMSC seats reserved for ordinary members. The development came on the day that Mohammed Ben Sulayem succeeded Jean Todt as the next FIA president.
WMSC members also include the President, Vice President, and seven Vice Presidents.
The Indian motorsport association FMSCI had nominated Singhania only to run in the WMSC elections, and he was on the panel of Graham Stoker, who lost the FIA presidential election to Sulayem.
The former Indian representatives of the WMSC include Singhania, KD Madan and Vijay Mallya.
Former FMSCI President Vicky Chandhok, who played a pivotal role in Formula 1’s return to India in 2011, said the association should have sent at least two nominations.
Chandhok remains on the eight-member FMSCI Board of Directors, led by President Akbar Ebrahim.
“It is very unfortunate that the majority of the FMSCI Council decided to send only a single nomination for the post of FIA WMSC candidacy, while it could have sent multiple nominations,” Chandhok told PTI.
“President Ebrahim had proposed that the council send two names that would appear on the preferred presidential lists of the two candidates for the FIA presidency, which was shot down by majority vote. Only one name was transmitted, that of Mr. Graham’s list. certainly Stoker was after the nominee.
“No middle name was put on the list of Mr Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who was elected FIA President today with a landslide victory. Unfortunately, India, which has been represented for over three decades in the past, is not represented in the WMSC.
“I would like to congratulate my good friend Mohammed on his election as FIA President, which is unprecedented and shows that diversity has gained momentum,” added Chandhok.
FMSCI President Ebrahim said the association had good relations with the FIA and expressed confidence that India’s interests would not be harmed without a WMSC representative.
“It would be much better if we were represented in the WMSC, but we have had a good working relationship with the FIA for a long time and we also have good relations with the new president,” said Ebrahim.
Incumbent Gautam Singhania lost in the elections for 14 WMSC seats reserved for ordinary members. The development came on the day that Mohammed Ben Sulayem succeeded Jean Todt as the next FIA president.
WMSC members also include the President, Vice President, and seven Vice Presidents.
The Indian motorsport association FMSCI had nominated Singhania only to run in the WMSC elections, and he was on the panel of Graham Stoker, who lost the FIA presidential election to Sulayem.
The former Indian representatives of the WMSC include Singhania, KD Madan and Vijay Mallya.
Former FMSCI President Vicky Chandhok, who played a pivotal role in Formula 1’s return to India in 2011, said the association should have sent at least two nominations.
Chandhok remains on the eight-member FMSCI Board of Directors, led by President Akbar Ebrahim.
“It is very unfortunate that the majority of the FMSCI Council decided to send only a single nomination for the post of FIA WMSC candidacy, while it could have sent multiple nominations,” Chandhok told PTI.
“President Ebrahim had proposed that the council send two names that would appear on the preferred presidential lists of the two candidates for the FIA presidency, which was shot down by majority vote. Only one name was transmitted, that of Mr. Graham’s list. certainly Stoker was after the nominee.
“No middle name was put on the list of Mr Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who was elected FIA President today with a landslide victory. Unfortunately, India, which has been represented for over three decades in the past, is not represented in the WMSC.
“I would like to congratulate my good friend Mohammed on his election as FIA President, which is unprecedented and shows that diversity has gained momentum,” added Chandhok.
FMSCI President Ebrahim said the association had good relations with the FIA and expressed confidence that India’s interests would not be harmed without a WMSC representative.
“It would be much better if we were represented in the WMSC, but we have had a good working relationship with the FIA for a long time and we also have good relations with the new president,” said Ebrahim.
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