Ben Sulayem proposes Malcolm Wilson as Robert Reid’s successor at FIA

British Rally Championship winner and M-Sport founder Malcolm Wilson has been nominated by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem as his most popular candidate to succeed Robert Reid because the governing physique’s deputy president for sport.

Members will vote on this on the extraordinary normal assemblies and convention in Macau in June.

Reid resigned from the position earlier this month, citing a ‘requirements breakdown’ and saying: “Over time, I’ve witnessed a gradual erosion of the rules we promised to uphold. Selections are being made behind closed doorways, bypassing the very constructions and folks the FIA exists to symbolize.”

Wilson is an enormous hitter on the planet of rallying, each as a driver and entrepreneur. His lengthy relationship with Ford netted him the British Rally Championship in 1994, and M-Sport gained the World Rally Championship for producers in 2006 and 2007.

He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in HM The Queen’s birthday honours listing in 2009 for providers to motorsport.

M-Sport, primarily based in Dovenby Corridor close to Cockermouth, Cumbria, weathered Ford’s withdrawal as a works entity due to Wilson’s entrepreneurial zeal. Past rallying it has constructed buyer engines for the British Touring Automotive Championship, run Bentley’s GT3 marketing campaign and partnered with Jaguar on the i-PACE eTROPHY assist collection for Method E.

“I’m delighted to appoint Malcolm Wilson OBE for the position of FIA deputy president for sport,” mentioned Mohammed Ben Sulayem within the FIA’s official assertion.

“Malcolm has had a distinguished profession in international motorsport. For over 40 years he has competed on the highest stage each as a driver and technical companion to groups. This expertise will likely be invaluable to the FIA and our member golf equipment as we proceed to develop grassroots {and professional} motorsport, driving innovation within the sport to learn followers, drivers and groups.”

“The FIA has performed a central position in my profession,” mentioned Wilson, “and I very a lot sit up for supporting the president and all of the FIA household in its necessary mission. There has by no means been a extra thrilling time to be in motorsport, and I do know first-hand the advantages the game brings to households and communities the world over.

“I sit up for working with the president at some point of his present time period of workplace, bringing our sport to new audiences and guaranteeing we ship the easiest championships for all our rivals.”

Ben Sulayem’s present time period of workplace ends this yr; he’s up for re-election in December.