16.12.2011 | Fund Approves Record Number of Grants for 2012
Motor Sport Safety Development Fund to distribute €5m in funding next year.
The Motor Sport Safety Development Fund has approved grants for 66 safety-related projects across 47 countries in 2012. The Fund's grant programme, managed by the FIA Institute, will distribute almost €5 million in funding next year to help these activities, which are being run by National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) covering every continent.
A record number of ASNs engaged with the Fund this year, with 63 submitting applications, a 43 per cent increase over the previous period. They submitted a total of 96 applications, with 66 receiving approval. A further 26 applications have been recommended for resubmission by the relevant ASN, giving them a second chance to unlock a grant for next year.
This significant increase in engagement has been helped by a number of outreach events organised by the Institute throughout 2011, which have grown awareness of the Fund, especially in areas that had seen little engagement with it so far. Four outreach workshops took place across Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with each one offering practical support for preparation of grant applications.
The biggest increases in engagement were seen across those areas where events took place, particularly in South America, Africa and the Middle East. For the first time in four years, the Middle East and Africa region was awarded the largest allocation for funding, reflecting the increased engagement of ASNs in that area. This included 10 first-time grant recipients such as Algeria, Iran, Madagascar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
Approved projects cover the three main areas of the Fund's grant programme, namely, Officials Safety Training, Facility Improvement and Young Driver Safety. Successful applications covered a diverse range of activities from increasing the commercial and environmental sustainability for existing circuits, to developing train the trainer initiatives, and increasing driving proficiency.
A significant number of Officials Safety Training activities will benefit from the Institute's Regional Training Provider (RTP) scheme, where experienced ASNs that have met the Institute's best practice requirements will be engaged to help train and develop officials in other countries. One of these projects will involve the newly appointed RTP from the UAE working with the ASN in Iran. The focus of the project will be to develop and implement a train the trainer initiative for race officials. The activity also has support from Iran's Ministry of Sport and Youth.
As part of the Facility Improvement Programme, funding will be provided to help the Nicaraguan ASN develop a master-plan to create a new multi-purpose facility. One of the goals of this project is to be able to develop a facility that can address the issues of unregulated street racing in Nicaragua. The project has strong government support from the Nicaraguan General Assembly, the Minister of Sport and the Cabinet of the President of Nicaragua. The facility would also be designed to accommodate road safety training.
As part of the Young Driver Safety Programme, funding will help the Estonian ASN conduct an elite-level young driver programme to progress race, rally and karting drivers to international level. The programme aims to improve competency levels and safety awareness of young drivers, as well as to support their transition from national level to international competition, goals which align with the Institute's Young Driver Excellence Academy.
In 2012 the Fund Management Committee will conduct a major review of the work successfully completed to date in order to gauge progress and identify potential further enhancements to programme activities and grant procedures.
Click here for further information about the Motor Sport Safety Development Fund.