The FIA Institute hosted its first-ever Motorsport Development Workshop in Paris on 22 October, offering a chance for experts from across the motor sport industry to present about their initiatives and discuss to illustrate how they aligned to the FIA Institute’s best practice frameworks

Jani Backman, Secretary General of AKK-Motorsport in Finland, spoke about the club’s driver coaching programme. In cooperation with the University of
Jyväskylä, the coaching team investigated strength and stamina requirements specific to drivers and how they should be measured and developed. Using this information, they turned general sports technology into advanced physical testing models for drivers.

Morgan Caron, responsible for the Equipe de France Circuit at the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile, gave a presentation about the FFSA’s Auto Sport Academy, located in Le Mans. The Academy is dedicated to the training of drivers and mechanics.

Garry Connelly, FIA Representative at the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS), spoke first about CAMS’ national officiating programme developed to provide job specific training to officials using a ‘safety first’ approach. He then gave a presentation about how environmental concerns were handled in organising the Repco Rally Australia for the 2009 World Rally Championship season.

Robert Reid, Performance Director for the Motor Sports Association and 2001 WRC champion, presented about the MSA Academy, which creates a development pathway to take competitors from entry level at age eight through to Elite and post-Elite levels, with a view to the most promising emerging onto the world stage.

Finally, Clive Bowen, founding director of Apex Circuit Design, spoke about strategies for making circuits more environmentally sustainable through proper building design, waste and water management, and environmental management systems.