F1: Ecclestone's wife meets South-American FIA member clubs to work on inclusion and promotion

FIA Vice-President for Sport in South America, Fabiana Ecclestone, met with representatives of motorsport federations of the South and Central Americas last Sunday (Nov. 13th) during the São Paulo Grand Prix in Interlagos, São Paulo. Topics such as inclusion, promotion, training and onboarding of stewards, processes and procedures to help increase the diversity of racing drivers and series in South American motorsport were on the agenda of the meeting.

“We stepped up and invited representatives of the motorsport governing bodies in these countries to discuss, together, an action plan aimed at the goals of promoting and developing motor racing in the continent as a whole”, Fabiana said.

Fabiana Ecclestone gathered representatives from South and Central America last Sunday

Representatives of federations and automobile clubs of countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Uruguay attended the meeting in Interlagos, alongside commissioners of the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, represented by FIA Vice President For Sport in North America, Daniel Coen. FIA members from other South American countries could not be in Interlagos due to clash of events in their regions, however, they have already expressed their unconditional support for the initiatives and their desire to participate and collaborate in future meetings.

“The first meeting was intended to bring representatives of these countries closer together, to understand more about the particularities of motorsport in each location and, above all, to exchange experiences and ideas. The aim is to grow the number of people in motor sport, the number of drivers, promoting greater diversity and inclusion”, she explained.

The meeting was held during the São Paulo F1 GP in Interlagos

The meeting was positive in gathering information and determining points to be worked on in the search for the development of initiatives within motorsport, always taking into account the particularities, needs and difficulties of each country and region.

“We set a list of the main needs in each area to continue together, so we can create a strategy plan, where to focus each initiative, how to work each issue efficiently and assertively, thinking on the medium and long term”, Ecclestone explained.

At the world-famous Interlagos racetrack for the São Paulo Grand Prix, Fabiana represented the president of the FIA, Mohammed ben Sulayem, during the celebrations for the 50th Grand Prix held in Brazil, by receiving a tribute.

Further meetings among the South and Central America motorsport governing bodies will be scheduled, and the next round of discussions will take place in early December in Bologna, Italy, during the FIA General Assembly.