The Motor Sport Safety Development Fund has approved funding for over 60 motor sport safety-related and sustainability-related projects from national sporting authorities around the world. It will distribute over €5 million in grants to help fund these projects in 2010.

Specific projects range from the training of officials in emerging markets in Africa and Asia, to developing young drivers and determining the economic and environmental sustainability of new motor sport facilities around the world.

Projects cover all continents, with recipients including national sporting authorities in Ireland, Finland, Spain, Poland, Russia, Brazil, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Syria, Tanzania, Namibia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

They were able to submit funding applications under each of the three safety programme categories relating to young drivers, officials and facilities.

The Fund is part of the FIA Foundation, and its programmes are managed by the FIA Institute, which is also responsible for the application process. Funding applications were required to meet a range of criteria and in particular needed to demonstrate an alignment to the FIA Institute’s recently published best practice frameworks.

The FIA Institute received 102 applications from 54 different countries, requesting funding for projects to be carried out in 2010. Compared to last year, this represents a 65 per cent increase in the number of those that are embracing this opportunity.

FIA Institute President Sid Watkins said:

“The FIA Institute is very pleased to be able to take a leading role with the development of programmes that are starting to have a significant impact upon the world of motor sport. We expect that these programmes will have a lasting impact and will help to positively shape the landscape of motor sport safety and sustainability around the globe.”

Editors note:

The Motor Sport Safety Development Fund was created to manage the distribution of motor sport safety-related grants worldwide. The Fund's resources were donated by the FIA as a result of the fine arising from the dispute between McLaren and Ferrari in the 2007 Formula One World Championship.

The Fund's programmes are managed by the FIA Institute, which has full responsibility for enhancing the programmes relating to young driver safety, facilities improvement, and safety training for officials. The FIA Institute, using the resources from the Fund, is aiming to facilitate significant and sustainable development across these three key areas.