The FIA President’s EDI Award aims to recognise outstanding commitment to diverse and inclusive practices and activities that foster equitable, sustainable and measurable change.
As part of the 23 projects received for this award, 12 match the FIA’s objective to double motor sport participation by making it more accessible, notably through talent detection initiatives and youth development programmes:

• GEORGIAN AUTOMOBILE SPORT FEDERATION — FIA Rally Star Georgia
• AUTOMÓVIL CLUB DEL URUGUAY — Grassroots Programme (FIA Rally Star)
• MOTORSPORT SOUTH AFRICA — FIA Rally Star National Implementation
• FEDERATION OF MOTOR SPORTS CLUBS OF INDIA — Rally Star Continental Final, Asia-Pacific
• BELIZE AUTOMOBILE CLUB — Karting in Schools
• AUTOMÓVEL & TOURING CLUBE DE MOÇAMBIQUE — ACTM Karting Academy
• TURKISH AUTOMOBILE SPORTS FEDERATION — Simulation on Road
• MOTORSPORT UK — Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy
• BAHAMAS MOTOR SPORTS ASSOCIATION — EduKarting
• AUTOMOVIL CLUB ARGENTINO — Eco-Challenge “Desafio ECO YPF”
• BAHRAIN MOTOR FEDERATION — Motorsport Induction Course
• NORGES BILSPORTFORBUND (Norway) — NBF Young Driver Development Programme

More detail on these projects is below:

• GEORGIAN AUTOMOBILE SPORT FEDERATION — FIA Rally Star Georgia

The Georgian Automobile Sport Federation (GASF) is one of the first FIA Member Clubs to have taken part in FIA Rally Star, the largest ever FIA global talent detection programme, which contributes to the promotion of motor sport around the globe with its strong youth-oriented and inclusive fundamentals. The first phase of the programme consisted in mass detection activities organised by FIA Clubs at the national level, spreading the message that motor sport can be accessible to everyone. As part of the programme, GASF organised four Slalom events in three cities around Georgia. Launched at the start of 2021 and lasting for one month, the initiative attracted more than 350 drivers aged between 18 and 26. Most competitors joined local amateur championships after the end of the FIA Rally Star selection phase, and the demand was so high that GASF had to create three additional amateur championships.

• AUTOMÓVIL CLUB DEL URUGUAY — Grassroots Programme (FIA Rally Star)

The Automóvil Club del Uruguay (ACU) participated in FIA Rally Star by organising national talent detection activities to promote motor sport in Uruguay and encourage young people to take part in grassroots and entry level motor sport categories. Four regional competitions were organised in Salto, Punta del Este, Mercedes, and Florida, thus covering the whole territory. Making full use of the Rally Star hybrid approach involving digital and on-track action, participants had to test their skills on a Rally simulator and a Slalom challenge. The best 15 participants were then selected for the final taking place in the capital. Lasting for four months, this project offered a first motor sport experience to men and women from different backgrounds, free of charge. This programme, which gathered more than 500 participants and attracted over 3,000 spectators, was declared of national sporting interest by the Uruguayan government. It was supported by local companies such as Seguros Sura, Renault, the National Secretariat for Sport, local authorities and the Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcoholes y Portland (ANCAP).

• MOTORSPORT SOUTH AFRICA — FIA Rally Star National Implementation

Motorsport South Africa (MSA) also took part in FIA Rally Star with the aim to counter the impact of COVID-19 on the Club’s competitor base, diversify this base in terms of ethnicity and gender, enhance MSA’s Esports presence and promote accessible motor sport for all. Supported by the FIA Sport Grant Programme, the project was built around four Slalom challenges organised in three different provinces. Thanks to a partnership with a driver training organisation, MasterDrive South Africa, participants could take part in both Slalom and Esports challenges free of charge, without having to provide their own motor vehicle or any form of equipment. Each challenge had a male winner and a female winner who participated in the national final to select MSA’s representatives at the continental final. Fifteen participants took part in the national final, including eight female drivers. All major South African ethnic groups were fairly represented in the competition. A short TV programme was produced, featuring the selection process, the continental final and an interview with the winners. One of the continental final female participants was able to participate in the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games. MSA was also selected by the FIA to organise the FIA Rally Star continental final for Africa that took place on 27-29 May 2022 at the Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria.   

• FEDERATION OF MOTOR SPORTS CLUBS OF INDIA — Rally Star Continental Final, Asia-Pacific

The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) played a key role in the FIA Rally Star programme, not only by organising national selection activities, but also by orchestrating the FIA Rally Star Asia-Pacific Final in Chennai, India on 10-12 October 2022. Attended by delegations from seven countries of the region, the event revealed three talented drivers including a girl from India. It was successfully delivered in spite of many challenges and difficulties including extreme weather conditions that led to the postponement of the Final by one month. Also, in the Asia-Pacific Final, a special segment was added for those eliminated in the early phase of the event: a combination of training and counselling to ensure their motivation and desire to continue in the sport remained as high as possible. To follow up with the FIA Rally Star experience, FMSCI’s goal is to introduce Cross Cars in India, set up academies to train young drivers and create championships – the underlying idea being for youngsters to follow a growth pathway from grassroots to the top of the Rally pyramid.

• BELIZE AUTOMOBILE CLUB — Karting in Schools

For the Belize Automobile Club (BAC), the biggest obstacle was to promote motor sport in a country where a motor sport culture had not yet been established. Driven by the desire to create a generation of drivers, BAC    organised a national tour to promote grassroots Slalom Karting among more than 200 children from different backgrounds, faiths and communities. Values such as discipline, leadership and hard work were at the heart of the project. All championship participants took part in a virtual training to ensure their safety, prior to the competition. The project was sponsored by a national tyre company and car dealer during its first year, and other car dealers are now wishing to purchase their own kart to have a team under their banner. Thanks to this project and for the first time, BAC has had some revenue from entry fees from Slalom racers. Two participants in the Slalom Championship Programme, a male driver and a female driver, were able to compete in the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games in the Karting Slalom category. This has been widely promoted in the local media and BAC is now receiving enquiries from more families and even parents who wish to compete.

• AUTOMÓVEL & TOURING CLUBE DE MOÇAMBIQUE — ACTM Karting Academy

To promote motor sport among young people in Mozambique, the Automóvel & Touring Clube de Moçambique (ATCM) created the Cristiano Morgado Karting Academy for girls and boys from the age of four. Accessible to participants of all ethnic origins, religions, genders, ages and social backgrounds, the Karting Academy provides its students with a dedicated kart track, karts, full safety equipment (overalls, gloves and helmets) and a training manual. So far, it has trained 70 new Karting drivers, of which 40% are girls, and the objective is to grow the number of Karting drivers competing at national and international events. All classes are given in Portuguese and English languages, and some are taught by young Karting drivers. Initially funded by the FIA Sport Grant Programme, the Academy is now financially self-sustainable. To increase the Academy’s reach and discover new talents at the heart of the educational system, ATCM also developed a simulator-based programme for schools, and the success of this initiative can be seen in the fact that several private international schools in Maputo have now decided to include Karting lessons as part of the extra-curriculum activities, along with the more traditional sporting disciplines such as swimming and sailing. 

• TURKISH AUTOMOBILE SPORTS FEDERATION — Simulation on Road

The Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) launched the Simulation on Road project to introduce motor sport in at least 40 distant cities of Eastern Turkey, and raise interest among children of these cities thanks to Esports simulation races. During six months, a crew of two experts in Esports and gaming travelled around the region with mobile simulators, providing all children with equal opportunities to discover motor sport in areas where very little or no racing activities take place. Intended to serve as a talent detection programme for future Karting racers, the Simulation on Road project also aims to provide fundamental traffic training to elementary school students via videos, brochures and presentations by the TOSFED crew. Funded by the FIA Sport Grant Programme, the project is supported by Turkey’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and deployed in coordination with the directorates in the different cities. In the next phase of the project, TOSFED plans to bring one boy and one girl from each city to the capital city of Ankara for further simulation trainings. In the future, the Club would like to keep developing the project by giving the best 20 children real Karting training, selecting the three fastest kids and ultimately giving them a chance to compete in national Karting races.

• MOTORSPORT UK — Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy

In 2021, Motorsport UK published a sustainability strategy encompassing the principles that need to be embedded into the culture of the wider British motor sport community to build a more diverse sport. Adopting these principles has culminated in the creation of a dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy that will be launched in December 2022. Before this launch, Motorsport UK has appointed an EDI Manager and undertaken two key programmes to ensure action was taken immediately. The first one relied on the establishment of grassroots initiatives permeating across communities, such as FIA Girls on Track UK, the Loughborough Car Club Disabled Drivers Scholarship, the first ever Racial Diversity in Motorsport Conference, a Race with Respect programme, a recent partnership with Ignite (a collaboration between Mission 44 and Mercedes) to create pilot schemes to encourage more diverse participation, and the StreetCar initiative that offers a low-cost form of motor sport to all. The second programme consisted in the creation of a dedicated EDI Committee, alongside four Sub Committees on Women in Motorsport, Racial Diversity, Disability and Accessibility, and LGBTQ+ to bring in motor sport and non-motor sport experts’ opinion and scrutiny. Both programmes proved very successful and will be integrated into the overall strategy.

• BAHAMAS MOTOR SPORTS ASSOCIATION — EduKarting

Developed by the Bahamas Motor Sports Association (BMSA) and backed by the government of Bahamas, EduKarting is a STEM-based initiative that relies on the concept of “stealth” education, an innovative approach to training in which non-traditional tools such as games are used to advance learning objectives, encouraging students to learn while having fun. The programme does not only aim to introduce Karting Slalom to all youngsters without discrimination as over the week-long course, participants have to earn the right to drive a Kart by successfully forming a team of five people holding different responsibilities (Crew Chief, Mechanic, Financial Officer, PR & Marketing, Art & Design). By using Karting as an incentive, EduKarting not only teaches participants about driving but also about creating a team that works as a small racing business. It helps break down barriers by giving youngsters the opportunity to discover skills they did not think they had, in addition to experience the sport. Building on the success of the programme, which has been running for several years, in 2022 BMSA decided to take part in the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games and use EduKarting to select a team of Karting drivers who represented the Bahamas in three disciplines: Karting Slalom Cup, Karting Endurance and Esports.

• AUTOMOVIL CLUB ARGENTINO — Eco-Challenge “Desafio ECO YPF”

The YPF Eco-Challenge is an annual competition in which students from 100 technical schools from all provinces of Argentina design and build electric car prototypes, using a kit containing all components and following a specific set of technical regulations. The students come from all kinds of background, and the competition rules establish that they have to create teams of male and female students, also including teachers, and learn to work together. Once the car is built, the teams gather for a national event taking place over a weekend during which they compete in a levelled playing field. By allowing each school to create its own car, the challenge fosters creativity and gives students a chance to learn about engineering and design, with the aim to trigger their interest in engaging in these types of careers. So far, women have represented 40% of the participants and 35% of the drivers, and the project is helping to improve female integration in technical schools by including women in the design, building and competition process. To date, more than 45,000 youngsters and over 135,000 friends and relatives have been reached by the project. This year, one million people voted online to choose their favourite team as part of the ECOFAN social media campaign around the challenge. The project is supported by many entities including title partner YPF, Siemens, the Fangio Association, the Argentinean Electric Vehicle Association, the Technological Institute of Buenos Aires and FIA Region IV. The YPF Eco-Challenge inspired the Automóvil Club del Uruguay which launched a similar competition.

• BAHRAIN MOTOR FEDERATION — Motorsport Induction Course

The Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) created the Motorsport Induction Course to introduce the Kingdom’s youth to motor racing, educate them on the many aspects that go into the running of motor sport events, and make them aware of the wide range of professional opportunities existing in this field. From July to September 2022, twenty-eight youngsters aged 17-18 participated in a variety of activities, including a basic marshal training, hands-on lessons on Karting engines and ‎logistics, and courses on ‎motor sport mechanics, first aid, and road safety. They also had the chance to learn about circuit racing and Drag Racing cars, as well as 4x4 vehicles ‎and Off-Road racing techniques. As part of the training, the Bahraini youngsters enjoyed some leisure time at the Bahrain International Karting Circuit, a world-class grassroots motor sport facility, where they were able to suit up and test the circuit’s fleet of nine-horsepower karts. The students completed the programme with a tour that included the Sakhir headquarters of global racing helmets manufacturing giant Bell Helmets, the ‎local automotive repair shop Aryan Xtreme Motorsports, and the Bahrain International Circuit’s facilities.

• NORGES BILSPORTFORBUND (Norway) — NBF Young Driver Development Programme

In 2010, the Norges Bilsportforbund (NBF) launched its Young Driver Development Programme to increase motor sport participation at a time when Norway did not have many professional motor sport athletes. Delivering quality training across many disciplines such as Rally, Rallycross, Karting, Drifting, Cross Car, Autocross and Drag Racing, the programme has evolved over the years with a stronger focus on the promotion of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in motor sport. Training camps organised for female drivers have been increasingly successful, and three of these drivers have made it to the National Team in different disciplines. Since 2020, there has been a specific focus on Esports to make motor sport more accessible and encourage young people to join.  Courses offered as part of the NBF Young Driver Development Programme are very complete and address diverse topics such as driving skills, physical and mental training, nutrition, sponsorship, media/PR management, technology as well as safety on and off the track. The NBF is cooperating with the Norwegian Motorcycle Federation (a FIM Club), the Norwegian Olympic Committee and the Norwegian Institute for Sports Medicine, and the Programme has helped several drivers to become professionals.

The following 11 projects submitted for the FIA President’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award will be presented in a news story that will be published on next Thursday 24 November.

The winner of the Award will be announced during the Annual General Assembly on Friday 9 December.