FIA President Max Mosley expressed his sincerest condolences to the families and friends of both men. Mosley said: “Both Shekhar and John were extraordinarily important and influential members of the FIA. They have both left a remarkable legacy to the world of motor sport, for which they will be remembered for many years to come. My deepest sympathies go out to their families, friends and colleagues. On a personal note, Shekhar and John were good friends and I will miss them both very much.”

Shekhar Mehta

Shekhar Mehta, the FIA’s highly respected vice president for sport and President of the World Rally Championship Commission, died at the age of 60. Throughout his life Mehta made an enormous contribution to motor sport both as a competitor and as a greatly valued member of the FIA.

Before his successful move into the political side of the sport Mehta was best known as a triumphant rally driver, winning the demanding Safari Rally five times between 1973 and 1980.

The rallying world was also deeply saddened by his loss. Ford World Rally boss Malcolm Wilson said: “This is a tragedy, such a sad situation. Shekhar was one of the nicest guys I’ve had the pleasure to meet in the sport. He was never difficult to deal with, he was always utterly open and honest. At the same time he was one heck of a competitor as well.”

Born in Uganda in 1945, Mehta was passionate about cars from an early age. As well as owning a number of tea plantations his family was in the business of importing BMW cars to Uganda and Kenya. Following schooling in Geneva, Mehta soon joined the business but found that his true calling lay in racing cars rather than importing them.

At the age of 21 he competed in his first rally, driving, of course, a BMW. He was immediately quick and confirmed his huge potential by winning his second-ever competitive rally.

He was forced to leave Uganda in 1972 following Idi Amin’s military takeover of the country. He moved to Kenya where he made his debut in the Safari Rally in 1973 driving a works Datsun/Nissan. Alongside co-driver Lofty Drews, Mehta won the Safari at his first attempt, an incredible achievement in one of the most gruelling events on the world rally calendar.

Mehta kept a strong association with the Japanese manufacturer and went on to notch up four straight wins with co-driver Mike Doughty on the Safari from 1979 to 1982. His multiple wins over seasoned drivers from across the world made the Safari a treasured item on the Kenyan motorsport calendar.

Mehta’s success made him a hero in the region and he became an unparalleled giant in East African rallying. More than anyone else, he contributed to the early popularity of the Safari in Kenya.

Subaru Kenya Managing Director Ranganathan Sridharan said that Mehta was "a wonderful human being, fondly regarded by every member of the rally family."

Mehta later went on to drive with a number of different teams, including Audi and Peugeot. He recorded a second and two third places on the Ivory Coast Rally and two third places on the Acropolis rally, including one with his wife Yvonne as his co-driver. In 1981, he finished fifth in the World Rally Championship.

In October 1987 he suffered serious injuries while driving for Peugeot on the Pharaohs Rally. He rolled his car end over end, suffering a cracked vertebra and a broken collar bone. He was airlifted to a Paris hospital, where he spent two months recovering and later transferred to London for full recuperation.

He would never drive competitively again. Remarkably, this did not diminish his enthusiasm for rallying and Mehta turned his attention to the administration side of the sport.

A fluent French speaker, Mehta started this new phase in his career as a link between the Safari Rally and the FIA Rallies Commission. But his natural charm and diplomacy would propel him to greater heights.

He became president of the FIA Rally Commission in 1997 and was recently appointed president of the World Rally Championship Commission. He also represented the Motor Sport Federation of Uganda on the World Motor Sport Council and was elected one of the seven FIA Vice Presidents for Sport last year.

Throughout this time, Mehta was a tireless campaigner for the improvement of rally car safety and much of the progress seen today can be attributed to his efforts. Another cause close to his heart was supporting Kenya’s return to the World Rally Championship calendar. Due to Mehta’s hard work Kenya is preparing to bid for a place on the calendar in 2008.

Surinder Thathhi, FIA Africa’s representative and Chairman of the African Rally Championship commented: "He always showed Kenyan organisers the way to regaining the WRC status. We have lost a rally stalwart and it will be difficult to fill the void left behind."

Shekhar passed away in hospital on April 12th and his wife, Yvonne, was with him at his bedside.

John Large

John Large, who passed away at the age of 67, was a significant leader in motor sport both in Australia and throughout the world. Throughout his life, he held numerous positions of responsibility in the FIA, including FIA Vice President, member of the FIA Senate and long-standing member of the World Motor Sport Council. He was also a trustee of the FIA Foundation and deputy president of the FIA Institute for Motor Safety.

Large was heavily influential in Australian motor sport and an established member of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS). Colin Osborne, CAMS President, said: “John Large was a significant leader in the history of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport and made an enormous contribution to the governance of motor sport in Australia.

"He probably did more for the standing of Australian motor sport administration on the world stage than any other person and worked tirelessly to promote the interests of Australian motor sport internationally. It is a tribute that he was recognised at the most senior levels of the FIA for his roles as FIA Vice President, member of the FIA Senate and long-standing member of the World Motor Sport Council, amongst a myriad of other positions held.”

Born in Burnie, Tasmania in 1938, Large was interested in cars and planes from an early age. When he was 16 he represented Australia in an Air Training Corp exchange visit to Malaysia and the following year was selected for flying training as part of his National Service for the Royal Australian Air Force.

He was also a gifted student and graduated as a pharmaceutical chemist from Tasmanian University. In 1965, he moved to Perth Western Australia where he built up the Lighthouse Chemists chain.

It was in Perth that he first became actively involved in motor sport as a rally navigator. He was particularly successful, winning the Western Australian Rally Championship six times. In 1975, he went on to win the Australian National Rally Championship, co-driving for Ross Dunkerton.

But it was as an administrator that he made his greatest motor sport contribution. In 1971, he was elected to represent Western Australia on the National Council of CAMS and in 1983 he was elected President, a position he held until 1994.

It was during this time that he played a major role in securing FIA World Championship events for Australia. He was also central to the development of the Targa Tasmania rally championship.

He was appointed to the FIA World Motor Sport Council in 1987 and was elected vice president of the governing body two years later.

Fittingly, Large was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for his outstanding service to Australian motor sport in a voluntary capacity over 35 years.