Held at the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I in Barcelona, this year’s General Assembly was hosted by the Royal Automobile Club of Catalunya (RACC) as part of its centenary celebrations.

The Assembly began with a one-minute silence for the passing of Shekhar Mehta and John Large, two of the FIA’s most prominent members, who both sat on the FIA World Motor Sport Council and made enormous contributions to sport and motoring.

Then began the process of ratifying the various decisions made by the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) and the World Council for Mobility and the Automobile (WCMA). CAMS representative Garry Connelly was co-opted into the vacant seat left by John Large on the WMSC. Morrie Chandler, who is also the World Rally Championship Commission president, was promoted to the vacant WMSC vice president position left by Mehta, whilst China’s Yang Heping took Chandler’s place on the WMSC.

Bernard Tay from Singapore was co-opted onto the WCMA, whilst ACCUS representative Nick Craw was co-opted onto the FIA Audit Committee. The Assembly then ratified the composition of the various commissions put forward by both world councils.

It was announced that David Ward was to step down from his position as Secretary General of the FIA International Court of Appeal in order to take up a new position as special advisor to FIA president Max Mosley. Ken Daly, a competition and sports law expert from Sidley Austin LLP, was proposed and duly elected to take Ward’s place for the remaining three years of his mandate.

The Assembly then adopted the annual progress reports for the FIA and agreed the draft budget for 2007. The FIA’s auditor Price Waterhouse Cooper was retained for a further year.

Mosley announced that Sebastiá Salvadó had decided that he could not give his full time and commitment to his position as FIA Deputy President for Mobility and the Automobile and was to step down from the role. Lucchese was proposed to take over the position and was then elected by the assembly.

Salvadó told the assembly: “It has been a pleasure to work with you and beside you. My decision is based simply on time. Thank you for your support and understanding.”

The Assembly went on to adopt the annual progress reports of the WCMA and WMSC. It also adopted the 2007 International sporting calendars and amendments to the sporting code. It then dealt with the delegation of sporting power to national clubs.

Finally, it was decided that the next FIA General Assembly will take place in Paris on 26 October 2007.