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Spanish GT Championship

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The Spanish GT Championship / Iber GT ( Campeonato de España de GT / Iber GT ) was a Spanish auto racing series founded in 1999 and organised by the GT Sport Organización. The series runs multiple classes of grand tourer cars in events around Spain and Portugal . The series later formed the basis for the International GT Open , a European-wide series which follows a similar structure.

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89-427: For racing events, Spanish GT has changed very little since its inception. Each event consists of two races of equal distance, one run on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Each race has its own qualifying session to determine the grid. The races both count towards the points championship, effectively doubling the series schedule. Initially, three classes of cars were used for the series, termed GT2, GT3, and GT4. This

178-497: A European Championship , consisting of the major Grand Prix in a number of countries (named Grandes Épreuves ) was instituted for drivers in 1931 , and was competed every year until the outbreak of World War II in 1939 with the exception of the 1933 and 1934 seasons. In 1946, following World War II, only four races of Grand Prix calibre were held. Rules for a Grand Prix World Championship had been laid out before World War II, but it took several years afterward until 1947 when

267-566: A Nations Cup organised in the first year. In 1978, Jean-Marie Balestre begun his presidency of the CSI, and it was renamed to Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA), with the intention of creating a governing body for automobile motor sport with some autonomy from the rest of the FIA, which retained control of the karting commission, CIK. Balestre believed motor sport was not being managed well and wanted to professionalise and commercialise

356-624: A Secretary General to head the administrative staff who function as intermediaries for the councils, commissions and committees. A Chief Administration Officer also heads areas supporting the Senate such as commercial, legal, marketing, events and financial. A number of commissions exist to further activities or aims within specific areas. Each may have their own presidency and could be broken down into further specific working groups. Individual members may be from member organisations joined by delegates and representatives from various professions or through

445-444: A company controlled by Ecclestone. This meant organisers were forced into having their championships promoted by the same company that managed the affairs of other motorsport events, a potential conflict of interest . The combination of these requirements meant Ecclestone's Formula One Administration , which now controlled Formula One's commercial rights, was protected from competition from any rival championships. The investigation

534-651: A competition. ;  Teams/entrants = The person or corporate entity that registers a car and driver for a competition, and is then responsible for preparing and maintaining that car for the duration of the competition. In 1913, the AIACR created the Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD), allowing motorists to cross international borders into signatory territories for temporary periods without customs tariffs, duties or taxes payable on their personal vehicles. The CPD works like an insurance product, customs are guaranteed to be paid by

623-468: A dispute with FOCA (named the " FISA–FOCA war "). The conflict saw several races being cancelled or boycotted, and large-scale disagreement over the technical regulations and their enforcement. The dispute and the Concorde Agreement that was written to end it, would have significant ramifications for the FIA. The agreement led to FOCA acquiring commercial rights over Formula One, while FISA and

712-438: A few countries setting up races of their own, but no formal championship tying them together. The rules varied from country to country and race to race, and typically centred on maximum (not minimum) weights in an effort to limit power by limiting engine size indirectly (10–15 L engines were quite common, usually with no more than four cylinders, and producing less than 50 hp). The cars all had mechanics on board as well as

801-576: A form of motorsport competition, has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as early as 1894. It quickly evolved from simple road races from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver. Innovation and the drive of competition soon saw speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), but because early races took place on open roads, accidents occurred frequently, resulting in deaths both of drivers and of spectators. A common abbreviation used for Grand Prix racing

890-818: A number of championships in the following years; the World Championship for Drivers in 1950, and the World Championship for Sports Cars in 1953. That same year it also established the European Rally Championship , and then in 1963, the European Touring Car Challenge . In 1962, the FIA created the Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK, also CIK-FIA), to oversee the growing karting discipline at international level, with

979-588: A number of changes at motor racing circuits around the world, and the improvement of crash barriers and trackside medical procedures. The FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety was established in 2004 with the focus of improving safety in motor sport, bringing together the various safety research groups into one organisation. It ceased prior to the 2017 motor sport season, with the Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety taking on its aims. The FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy begun in 2011 with

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1068-573: A related connection such as being a motorsport competitor for example. Alongside the various Sporting and Mobility Commissions, the International Historical Commission exists for the preservation of historic vehicles. Ten sports committees have been established by the World Motorsport Council to help manage and administer certain aspects of motorsport. An Ethics committee was also set up in 2012 by

1157-621: A result of this ruling, the FIA sold the commercial rights to Formula One to the Formula One Group for 100 years for $ 360 million. In 2008, accusations surfaced in the British media that FIA president Max Mosley was involved in scandalous sexual behaviour. In response, Mosley faced a leadership challenge in a vote of confidence at the June 2008 General Assembly. Mosley won the vote by 103 votes in support to 55 against, resulting in

1246-426: A series not controlled by the FIA. This provision, which also applied to racing circuits and promoters, prevented rival championships competing against the FIA championships by restricting their access to facilities, drivers, and vehicle manufacturers. In addition, the FIA also claimed the television rights to all international motorsport events, which were then transferred to International Sportsworld Communicators ,

1335-630: A stoker which the judges deemed to be outside of their objectives. In 1900, James Gordon Bennett, Jr. , the owner of the New York Herald and the International Herald Tribune , established the Gordon Bennett Cup . He hoped the creation of an international event would drive automobile manufacturers to improve their cars. Each country was allowed to enter up to three cars, which had to be fully built in

1424-498: Is "GP" or "GP racing". Grand Prix motor racing eventually evolved into formula racing , with Formula One considered its direct descendant. Each event of the Formula One World Championships is still called a Grand Prix ; Formula One is also referred to as "Grand Prix racing". Some IndyCar championship races are also called "Grands Prix". Motor racing was started in France , as a direct result of

1513-416: Is an international organisation with two primary functions surrounding use of the automobile . Its mobility division advocates the interests of motoring organisations, the automotive industry and motor car users in the fields of road safety and traffic circulation . The sport division is a governing body for many international motorsport championships and disciplines, including Formula One . The FIA

1602-676: Is in the licensing and sanctioning of Formula One , World Rally Championship , World Endurance Championship , TCR World Tour , World Rallycross Championship , Formula E , and various other forms of racing. The FIA along with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) also certify land speed record attempts. The International Olympic Committee provisionally recognised the federation in 2011, and granted full recognition in 2013. The Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR, English: 'International Association of Recognized Automobile Clubs')

1691-571: Is the President, a position currently held by Mohammed bin Sulayem . The President coordinates the activities of the Federation and proposes resolutions to the various commissions and committees and also acts as the representative of the FIA to external organisations. They are supported by two Deputy Presidents and several vice-presidents, each for Sport or Mobility, as well as the President of

1780-738: The Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus ( AIACR ). In 1922 the Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI) was empowered on behalf of AIACR to regulate Grand Prix racing and other forms of international racing. Since the inception of Grand Prix racing, competitions had been run in accordance with a strict formula based on engine size and vehicle weight. These regulations were virtually abandoned in 1928 with an era known as Formula Libre when race organisers decided to run their events with almost no limitations. From 1927 to 1934,

1869-584: The World Rally-Raid Championship . With the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) acting as promotor and organiser; the separate cross-country rallying series sanctioned by the FIA and FIM were dissolved and merged into the new World Championship. Key: Constructors/manufacturers = The person or corporate entity that owns the intellectual rights to the chassis and the engine of the car that a team/entrant enters into

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1958-652: The 1992 season the World Sportscar Championship was cancelled and dissolved, revived again in the 2012 season under the new name as the FIA World Endurance Championship . In the 1973 World Rally Championship season , the FIA organised the first World Rally Championship beginning with the 42nd Rally of Monte-Carlo to replace the International Championship for Manufacturers . Initially

2047-517: The European Commission opened a formal investigation into the FIA. The Commission alleged a number of breaches of European competition law , centred around the FIA's administration of licences required to participate in motorsport and the control of television rights of the motorsport events it authorised. In order to compete in events the FIA authorised, the competitor had to apply for a licence, which prohibited licensees from entering

2136-620: The European F3 Open Championship , also run by the GT Sport Organización. An overall combined drivers championship is awarded each season, adding overall points to class points, which can mean a driver from a lower class of car can be crowned the series champion. Along with this, each individual class also awards their own champion. FIA The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile ( FIA ; English: International Automobile Federation )

2225-716: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway , first used in 1909 with the first Indianapolis 500-Mile Race in 1911; and the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza , in Italy , opened in 1922. In 1908, the United States of America became the first country outside France to host an automobile race using the name Grand Prix (or Grand Prize), run at Savannah. The first Grande Épreuve outside France was the 1921 Italian Grand Prix held at Montichiari . This

2314-491: The Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) in the 2010 and 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup seasons, the FIA and ACO organised together the rebirth of the defunct World Sportscar Championship for both Sports prototypes and GT cars from the 2012 season onward, now officially known as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Starting in 2022 season , the FIA and FIM jointly sanctioned

2403-607: The Vanderbilt Cup at Long Island , New York in 1904. Some anglophone sources wrongly list a race called the Pau Grand Prix in 1901. This may stem from a mistranslation of the contemporary French sources such as the magazine La France Auto of March 1901. The name of the 1901 event was the Circuit du Sud-Ouest and it was run in three classes around the streets of Pau. The Grand Prix du Palais d'Hiver

2492-734: The 1901 event as: "in the Circuit du Sud-Ouest , at the meeting in Pau" ( "dans le Circuit du Sud-Ouest, à l'occasion du meeting de Pau" ). The only race at the time to regularly carry the name Grand Prix was organised by the Automobile Club de France (ACF), of which the first took place in 1906. The circuit used, which was based in Le Mans , was roughly triangular in shape, each lap covering 105 kilometres (65 mi). Six laps were to run each day, and each lap took approximately an hour using

2581-671: The 2022 edition of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi , initially scheduled for 25 September. The FIA also terminated the Russian contract to host the race. The true history of Formula One began in the 1946 Grand Prix season with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile ' s (FIA's) standardisation of rules for Formula One cars . The first Grand Prix in accordance with this new regulations

2670-490: The 32 entries representing 12 different automobile manufacturers, at the 1906 event, the Hungarian -born Ferenc Szisz (1873–1944) won the 1,260 km (780 mi) race in a Renault . This race was regarded as the first Grande Épreuve , which meant "great trial" and the term was used from then on to denote up to the eight most important events of the year. Races in this period were heavily nationalistic affairs, with

2759-439: The AIACR (The Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus). The World Sportscar Championship was created in the 1953 World Sportscar Championship season, and was the first points series for sports car racing in the world. The official name frequently varied throughout the period and from the 1962 season to the 1971 season the championship was officially known as the International Championship . The championship

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2848-705: The FIA Senate. The combined presidency is elected to a four-year term by the General Assembly. Presidential candidates must produce an electoral list consisting of their proposed Deputy Presidents, Vice-Presidents for Sport, and the President of the Senate, as well as demonstrate support from a number of member clubs. The FIA has two World Councils. The World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT) governs transport policy, road safety, tourism and environmental concerns. The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) regulates all sporting disciplines claimed by

2937-535: The FIA had been abusing its position as motorsport's governing body. Van Miert's initial inquiry had not concluded by 1999, which resulted in the FIA suing the European Commission, alleging that the delay was causing damaging uncertainty, and successfully receiving an apology from the Commission over the leaking of documents relating to the case. Mario Monti took over as Commissioner in 1999, and

3026-433: The FIA of a witch-hunt against McLaren . The World Motor Sport Council responded by issuing a writ against The Sunday Times alleging libel. Brundle responded by saying "I have earned the right to have an opinion", and suggested the writ was a "warning sign to other journalists". The FIA–FOTA dispute was a series of clashes between the FIA and the now defunct Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) over proposed changes to

3115-432: The FIA would have control over sport's regulations. FOCA chief Bernie Ecclestone became an FIA Vice-President with control over promoting the FIA's World Championships, while FOCA legal advisor and former March Engineering manager Max Mosley would end up becoming FISA President in 1991. Mosley succeeded Balestre as President of the FIA in 1993 and restructured the organisation, dissolving FISA and placing motor racing under

3204-500: The FIA, and approves the regulations for each of the FIA's championships. Beneath the WMSC are a number of specialised commissions, which are either focused on individual championships, or general areas such as safety. The FIA Senate generally oversees financial and commercial affairs and general management of the FIA, and can take decisions required between meetings of the relevant committee or World Council. Sport and Mobility each have

3293-412: The FIA. The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has the decision-making responsibility for all motorsport the FIA governs and sanctions. It convenes at least three times a year to decide on rules and regulations proposed to it by the commissions and committees that have direct responsibility of the various disciplines and championships. The WMSC also discusses safety and development of motor sport and steers

3382-411: The General Assembly are usually held once a year, though extraordinary meetings can be convened for urgent matters. The General Assembly has responsibility for amending the FIA's statutes and regulations, approving the annual budget and reports, deciding upon the membership, and electing the officers and members to the Federation's governing bodies. The head of the FIA and chairman of the General Assembly

3471-642: The General Assembly. The FIA's judicial bodies include the International Tribunal, which exercises disciplinary powers that are not dealt with by the meeting stewards , and the International Court of Appeal. The ICA is the final appeal tribunal for international motor sport, which resolves disputes brought before it by National Sporting Authorities worldwide, or by the President of the FIA. It can also settle non-sporting disputes brought by national motoring organisations affiliated to

3560-761: The Manufacturer's Committee, nine sporting committees report to the WMSC. The committees, shown below in bold, may have their own specialised commissions. In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , the FIA banned Russia and Belarus teams, and banned the holding of competitions in Russia or Belarus. It also excluded Russian and Belarusian FIA members from their roles as elected officers or commission members, and banned FIA grants to Russian and Belarusian members. Individual Russia and Belarus competitors were allowed to enter races as neutrals, without their national symbols, flags, colours and anthems. The FIA cancelled

3649-531: The aim of developing driver talent worldwide. It ceased functioning after the 2015 season. The CSI determined the regulations and calendar of the major international championships, such as the Formula One World Championship, World Sportscar Championship and European Rally Championship . Meanwhile, the organisers of the individual races (for example local or national clubs) were responsible for accepting entries, paying prize money, and

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3738-491: The arrival of teams and the amount of prize money. This led to the FIA President Prince Metternich attempting to reassert its authority by appointing Jean-Marie Balestre as the head of the CSI in 1978, who promptly reformed the committee into the autonomous Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA). Under Balestre's leadership FISA and the manufacturer-backed teams became involved in

3827-505: The championship was solely for manufacturers. In the 1977 and 1978 seasons, an FIA Cup for Drivers was included before a Driver's Championship title was introduced in the 1979 season. In the 1987 World Touring Car Championship season, the FIA sanctioned the World Touring Car Championship . Initially a one-off series for touring car racing , the title was revived in the 2005 season and discontinued at

3916-496: The commissions and committees through delegated tasks. The council consists of the President of the FIA, the Deputy President for Sport and seven Vice-Presidents as nominated by the President; five members by right and fourteen further members approved by the General Assembly. Each of the seven World Championships report directly to the WMSC, usually to propose amendments to their own rules and regulations. Alongside

4005-645: The committee worked with the Motor Industry Research Association to strengthen the crash resistance of cars and the restraint systems and to improve drivers' personal safety. The recommendations of the committee led to significantly more stringent crash tests for racing vehicles, new safety standards for helmets and race suits, and the eventual introduction of the HANS device as compulsory in all international racing series. The committee also worked on improving circuit safety. This led to

4094-557: The country that they represented and entered by that country's automotive governing body. International racing colours were established in this event. The 1903 event occurred in the aftermath of the fatalities at the Paris-Madrid road race, so the race, at Athy in Ireland, though on public roads, was run over a closed circuit: the first ever closed-circuit motor race. In the United States , William Kissam Vanderbilt II launched

4183-610: The direct management of the FIA. During the 2000s, the FIA and its president became increasingly embroiled in controversy over Formula One, while facing threats from teams to establish a breakaway series. A grouping of the car manufacturers involved in F1, the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association , proposed a new world championship , which would allow them greater control over the regulations and revenue distribution. A new Concorde Agreement eventually ended

4272-557: The driver, and no one was allowed to work on the cars during the race except for these two. A key factor to Renault winning this first Grand Prix was held to be the detachable wheel rims (developed by Michelin), which allowed tire changes to occur without having to lever the tire and tube off and back on the rim. Given the state of the roads, such repairs were frequent. Early Grand Prix cars could be technically innovative, with marques such as Peugeot using technology that would later become more widespread. A further historic confusion arose in

4361-526: The early 1920s when the Automobile Club de France attempted to pull off a retrospective political trick by numbering and renaming the major races held in France before the 1906 French Grand Prix as being Grands Prix de l'Automobile Club de France , despite their running pre-dating the formation of the Club. Hence, the 1895 Paris–Bordeaux–Paris Trail was renamed I Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France ; and

4450-466: The early 1920s), with 8 to 16 cylinder supercharged engines producing upwards of 600 hp (450 kW) on alcohol fuels. As early as October 1923, the idea of an automobile championship was discussed at the annual autumn conference of the AIACR (Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus) in Paris. However, discussion centered on the increased interest in racing by manufacturers and holding

4539-698: The end of the 2017 season. In the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season, the SRO Group introduced the FIA GT1 World Championship , which was a championship consisting of one-hour sprint races for GT cars . This world championship ended in the 2012 season . After a switch to GT3 cars in 2012 it became known as the FIA GT Series in the 2013 season . After the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) successfully organised

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4628-613: The enthusiasm with which the French public embraced the motor car. Manufacturers were enthusiastic due to the possibility of using motor racing as a shop window for their cars. The first motoring contest took place on July 22, 1894, and was organised by a Paris newspaper, Le Petit Journal . The Paris–Rouen rally was 126 km (78 mi), from Porte Maillot in Paris , through the Bois de Boulogne , to Rouen . Count Jules-Albert de Dion

4717-404: The extent of the aid into their hands was exaggerated in the media; government subsidies amounted to perhaps 10% or less of the costs of running the two racing teams.) The two German marques utterly dominated the period from 1935 to 1939, winning all but three of the official Championship Grands Prix races run in those years. The cars by this time were single-seaters (the riding mechanic vanished in

4806-667: The first European Grand Prix at Monza in 1923. The first World Championship took place in 1925 , but it was for manufacturers only, consisting of four races of at least 800 km (497 mi) in length. The races that formed the first Constructors' Championship were the Indianapolis 500 , the European Grand Prix , and the French and Italian Grands Prix. This world championship was officially cancelled in 1930 , but in 1928 –1930 no titles were awarded. Subsequently,

4895-746: The first year. In the current format, the GTA class is dominated by the Ferrari F430 GT2, Porsche 911 GT3 -RSR, Mosler MT900 R, and the custom-built Sun Red SR21. GTS uses GT3 versions of the Ferrari F430, Porsche 911, Lamborghini Gallardo and Dodge Viper Competition Coupe. GTB is retained for one-make cup regulation versions of the F430 and 911, as well as the Marcos Mantis . The Spanish GT Championship shares several race weekends with

4984-527: The general running of each event. In Formula One, this led to tension between the teams, which formed themselves into the Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) founded in 1974, event organisers and the CSI. The FIA and CSI were largely amateur organisations, and FOCA under the control of Bernie Ecclestone began to take charge of various aspects of organising the events, as well as setting terms with race organisers for

5073-459: The history of the sport that the grid was determined by timed qualifying rather than the luck of a draw. All the competing vehicles were painted in the international auto racing colors : French cars continued to dominate (led by Bugatti , but also including Delage and Delahaye ) until the late 1920s, when the Italians ( Alfa Romeo and Maserati ) began to beat the French cars regularly. At

5162-673: The issuer if the vehicle does not leave the country within the specified time. Under the terms of the United Nations Customs Convention, only the FIA and the Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) may authorise carnet issuers. The FIA was a founder member of the European New Car Assessment Programme , a car safety programme that crash-tests new models and publishes safety reports on vehicles. Mosley

5251-557: The karting commission (CIK) gained some independence, becoming known as the Fédération Mondial de Karting (FMK, also known as FMK-FIA and distinct from separate organisations International Kart Federation and World Karting Association ). However the Federation was short lived and in 2000, reverted back to being known as the CIK. The FIA announced in 2022 the appointment of its first ever CEO, Natalie Robyn. Robyn resigned

5340-460: The number of races considered to have Grand Prix status exploded, jumping from five events in 1927, to nine events in 1929, to eighteen in 1934 (the peak year before World War II ). During this period a lot of changes of rules occurred. There was a mass start for the first time at the 1922 French Grand Prix in Strasbourg. The 1925 season was the first season during which no riding mechanic

5429-525: The old AIACR reorganised itself as the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile or "FIA" for short, headquartered in Paris. It announced the new International Formula, also known as Formula 1 or Formula A, to be effective from 1947. At the end of the 1949 season the FIA announced that for 1950 they would be linking several national Formula One Grands Prix to create a World Championship for drivers, although due to economic difficulties

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5518-484: The position after 18 months and as of August 2024 the position remains vacant. The General Assembly is the Federation's supreme governing body, consisting of representatives from each of the FIA's member associations. According to the FIA's website, the voting member associations can be automobile and touring clubs (mobility), or national sporting authorities (sport). The website further states that there are 244 organisations spread among 146 countries. Meetings of

5607-426: The relatively primitive cars of the day. The driving force behind the decision to race on a circuit – as opposed to racing on ordinary roads from town to town – was the Paris to Madrid road race of 1903. During this race a number of people, both drivers and pedestrians – including Marcel Renault – were killed and the race was stopped by the French authorities at Bordeaux. Further road based events were banned. From

5696-461: The retention of Mosley as president. However he continued to face criticism from several motoring clubs and motorsport figures. Germany's ADAC (the largest European FIA member), announced, "We view with regret and incredulity the FIA general assembly's decision in Paris, confirming Max Mosley in office as FIA president". It froze all its activities with the FIA until Mosley left office. Grand Prix motor racing Grand Prix motor racing ,

5785-469: The rules and regulations for the 2010 Formula One season. The debate began over the introduction of a budget cap and escalated until the eve of the 2009 British Grand Prix with the FOTA teams announcing their intention to form their own rival breakaway series. The FIA in response began an entry process for new teams. From that point onwards, the dispute was negotiated to the point at which a new Concorde Agreement

5874-429: The sport, particularly in Formula One which led to a dispute with participants known as the FISA–FOCA war . Balestre later took presidency of the FIA in 1985, managing presidencies of both federations simultaneously. He lost the FISA presidency in 1991, and the FIA presidency in 1993, to Max Mosley on both occasions. It was clear to both Balestre and Mosley, and agreed by the FIA General Assembly upon proposition that there

5963-419: The sporting commission of the Automobile Club de France . The World Manufacturers' Championship was introduced in 1925, replaced by the European Drivers' Championship in 1931 with a title awarded to the driver with the best results in the selected Grands Prix. Upon resumption of motorsport after the Second World War , the AIACR was renamed the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The FIA established

6052-463: The success of certain championships. The FIA could no longer prevent non-FIA administered events from being established, neither could it use its powers to prevent competition to Formula One. Ecclestone and FOA would no longer handle the commercial rights to other motorsport events outside of Formula One. Ecclestone had sold the ISC company, which now only controlled the rights to rallying, and would stand down from his role as an FIA Vice-President. As

6141-472: The teams who withdrew from the event, but later cleared the teams of any wrongdoing. In 2007 and 2008 the FIA was criticised on two issues. The 2007 Formula One espionage controversy involved accusations against McLaren, who were accused of stealing technological secrets from Ferrari. Commenting on how the FIA handled the situation, Martin Brundle wrote a column in The Sunday Times titled "Witch-hunt threatens to spoil world title race" in which he accused

6230-437: The threat, but the breakaway series would resurface during each dispute between the FIA, teams and the Formula One Group. The FIA's handling of the tyre situation at the 2005 United States Grand Prix was criticised. Mosley had refused any modification to the circuit or the holding of a non-championship event in place of the Grand Prix, having stated that running on an untested circuit was unsafe. The FIA also threatened to punish

6319-410: The time, the Germans engineered unique race vehicles as seen in the photo here with the Benz aerodynamic "teardrop" body introduced at the 1923 European Grand Prix at Monza by Karl Benz . In the 1930s, however, nationalism entered a new phase when the Nazis encouraged Mercedes and Auto Union to further the glory of the Reich . (The government did provide some money to the two manufacturers, but

6408-532: The true first Grand Prix in 1906 race was renamed the IX Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France (9th). The ACF used this numbering in 1933, although some members of the Club dismissed it, "concerned the name of the Club was lent to the fiction simply out of a childish desire to establish their Grand Prix as the oldest race in the world". For the most part, races were run over a lengthy circuit of closed public roads, not purpose-built private tracks. This

6497-613: The years 1952 and 1953 were actually competed in Formula Two cars. A points system was established and a total of seven races were granted championship status including the Indianapolis 500. The first World Championship race was held on 13 May 1950 at Silverstone in the United Kingdom . The Italians once again did well in these early World Championship races, both manufacturers and drivers. The first World Champion

6586-477: Was Giuseppe Farina , driving an Alfa Romeo. Ferrari appeared at the second World Championship race, in Monaco, and has the distinction of being the only manufacturer to compete in every season of the World Championship, still competing in 2024 . Italics denote that the race was also known as the European Grand Prix . For wartime events, see Grands Prix during World War II . See also: Notable drivers of

6675-406: Was closed in 2001 after the FIA and FOA agreed to a number of conditions. In order to fairly regulate all international motorsport, the FIA agreed to limit its role to that of a sporting regulator, and would sell the commercial rights to its championships, including Formula One. This was to prevent a conflict of interest between the FIA's regulatory role and any commercial advantages it may gain from

6764-503: Was first into Rouen after 6 hours 48 minutes at an average speed of 19 km/h (12 mph). He finished 3 minutes 30 seconds ahead of Albert Lemaître ( Peugeot ), followed by Auguste Doriot (Peugeot, 16 minutes 30 seconds back), René Panhard ( Panhard , 33 minutes 30 seconds back), and Émile Levassor (Panhard, 55 minutes 30 seconds back). The official winners were Peugeot and Panhard as cars were judged on their speed, handling and safety characteristics, and De Dion's steam car needed

6853-518: Was formally established on 20 June 1904. It is headquartered at 8 Place de la Concorde , Paris, with offices in Geneva , Valleiry and London . The FIA consists of 243 member organisations in 147 countries worldwide. Its current president is Mohammed bin Sulayem . The FIA is generally known by its French name or initials, even in non-French-speaking countries, but is occasionally rendered as International Automobile Federation. Its most prominent role

6942-572: Was founded in Paris on 20 June 1904, as an association of national motor clubs . The association was designed to represent the interests of motor car users, as well as to oversee the burgeoning international motor sport scene. In 1922, the AIACR established the Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI), which would oversee international motorsport matters, such as setting the regulations for Grand Prix motor racing . Previously, this responsibility had been entrusted to

7031-601: Was no need for two federations, and subsequent to Mosley's FIA election, FISA was abolished in structural changes, bringing all motorsport under the control of the World Motor Sport Council. In 1998, amidst the European Commission investigation, the FIA moved its headquarters to Geneva , Switzerland, outside the jurisdiction of the Commission. In 2001, the FIA moved back to Paris following the settlement however it retains its office in Geneva. Also in 1998,

7120-441: Was quickly followed by Belgium and Spain (in 1924), and later spread to other countries including Britain (1926). Strictly speaking, this still was not a formal championship, but a loose collection of races run to various rules. (A "formula" of rules had appeared just before World War I , finally based on engine size as well as weight, but it was not universally adopted.) In 1904, many national motor clubs banded together to form

7209-578: Was required in a car, as this rule was repealed in Europe after the death of Tom Barrett during the 1924 Grand Prix season . At the Solituderennen in 1926 a well thought-out system, with flags and boards, giving drivers tactical information, was used for the first time by Alfred Neubauer , the racing manager of the Mercedes-Benz team. The 1933 Monaco Grand Prix was the first time in

7298-578: Was set up in 2006 by the FIA Foundation, targeting the creation of safe roads across the world. Critics see it as a tool of the motor industry to increase the acceptability of car-based traffic solutions while blocking alternatives. Following the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix , which saw the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger , the FIA formed an Expert Advisory Safety Committee to research and improve safety in motor racing. Chaired by Formula One medical chief Professor Sid Watkins ,

7387-462: Was signed in August 2009, with the budget cap replaced by a series of cost-cutting measures. The Competition Directorate of the European Commission and the FIA were involved in a dispute over the commercial administration of motorsport during the 1990s. The Competition Commissioner, Karel Van Miert had received a number of complaints from television companies and motorsport promoters in 1997 that

7476-548: Was solely for manufacturers up to the 1981 season when a Drivers Championship title was introduced. From the 1953 season to the 1984 season, titles were awarded to manufacturers of sports cars belonging to two main categories: Sports prototypes (except for the 1978 to 1981 seasons) and GT cars (except for the 1953 to 1961 and 1982 seasons). From the 1985 season to the 1992 season, titles were awarded only to teams entering Sports prototypes (instead of manufacturers of Sports prototypes), excluding teams entering GT cars. After

7565-554: Was soon replaced by the GTA, GTB, and GTC classes. These cars ranged from the FIA 's GT2 class equivalent down to cars from one make series. The slowest class, GTC, was eliminated in 2001, only to return in 2004. A new GTS class was introduced in 2005, initially for the custom-built SEAT Toledo GT, but was adapted in 2006 to use cars from the FIA GT3 European Championship , originally without scoring points in

7654-688: Was the 1946 Turin Grand Prix . Then in the 1950 Formula One season , the FIA organised the first World Championship for Drivers . From the 1958 season , a World Constructors' Championship title was introduced, named from the 1958 season to the 1980 season officially as the International Cup for Formula One Constructors . Formula One originated from the World Manufacturers' Championship ( 1925 – 1930 ) and European Drivers' Championship ( 1931 – 1939 ) which were organised by

7743-600: Was the first chairman of the organisation. The FIA later helped establish the Latin NCAP , ASEAN NCAP and Global NCAP . The FIA Foundation was established in 2001 as the FIA's charitable arm. A registered charity in the United Kingdom, the foundation received a US$ 300 million grant from the sale of Formula One's rights to fund research into road safety, the environmental impact of motoring, and to support sustainable motoring. The Make Roads Safe campaign

7832-464: Was the name of the prizes awarded for the lesser classes ('Light cars' and 'Voiturettes'). The Grand Prix de Pau was the name of the prize awarded for the 'Heavy' (fastest) class. Thus Maurice Farman was awarded the Grand Prix de Pau for his overall victory in the Circuit du Sud-Ouest driving a Panhard 24 hp . In L'Histoire de l'Automobile/Paris 1907 Pierre Souvestre described

7921-604: Was true of the Le Mans circuit of the 1906 Grand Prix , as well as the Targa Florio (run on 93 miles (150 km) of Sicilian roads), the 75 miles (121 km) German Kaiserpreis circuit in the Taunus mountains, and the French circuit at Dieppe (a mere 48 miles (77 km)), used for the 1907 Grand Prix . The exceptions were the steeply banked egg-shaped near oval of Brooklands in England , completed in 1907;

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