The Grand Prix Drivers Association has offered its full support and backing to the inaugural FIA Institute Centre of Excellence Safety Summit.

In a statement, the GPDA commented that the theme of the Summit - Risk Management in Sport - is one that it is particularly supportive of. It also fully endorsed the work that the FIA Institute is doing in this area and was especially pleased that so many high level representatives from the world of sport have taken an active role in the event. GPDA Director Ralf Schumacher, who attended the Summit, said:

“It is essential that we work constructively with the FIA and the FIA Institute to help minimise the risks in our sport. As drivers we have a role to play in progressing research and development in this area and we are only too happy to offer our support to events such as the first FIA Institute Summit."

GPDA Member and former Director Alex Wurz, who gave a presentation at the Summit, said,

“Driving is inherently a risky business and it is vital that we seek to diminish those risks without affecting the excitement of a sport that we all love. Events such as this Centre of Excellence Summit can play a central role in the development of motor sport safety. Some of these benefits can be transferred to improvements in road safety and it’s good to know that work undertaken to improve motor sport safety can also potentially save lives and prevent injuries on our roads."