The FIA, the global governing body for motorsports, has revealed that Malcolm Wilson has been nominated as the new Deputy President.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem nominated Malcolm Wilson as the new Deputy President. If appointed, Wilson will take on various responsibilities, including promoting safety, sustainability and innovation, while also working with FIA commissions to develop global motorsport policies.
Commenting on the nomination, Ben Sulayem said: “Malcolm has had a distinguished career in global motor sport. For over 40 years he has competed at the highest level both as a driver and technical partner to teams.
“This experience will be invaluable to the FIA and our member clubs as we continue to grow grassroots and professional motor sport, driving innovation in the sport to benefit fans, drivers and teams.”
As highlighted by the FIA President, Wilson has extensive experience in motorsport. He is a former driver who won the British Rally Championship in 1994. He is currently the Managing Director of M-Sport, which runs Ford’s World Rally programme and was honoured with an OBE in 2009 for his contributions to motorsport.
A rocky road
In addition to the responsibilities mentioned earlier, Wilson will step into his new role during a challenging time for the FIA. Former Deputy President Robert Reid resigned earlier this month, creating a media storm due to the circumstances of his departure.
Upon announcing his resignation, he said: “I took on this role to help deliver greater transparency, stronger governance, and more collaborative leadership. Over time, those principles have been increasingly set aside, and I can no longer, in good faith, remain part of a system that no longer reflects them.”
Reports suggest that Reid had disagreed with FIA President Ben Sulayem on several decisions in recent months and was dissatisfied with the direction the governing body was going.
He stated: “Stepping away was not easy, however, staying would have meant compromising what I believe in. This is about principles, not politics.
“Motorsport deserves leadership rooted in integrity, accountability, and respect for process. That’s the minimum standard we should all expect, and demand.”
