The second annual FIA Institute Summit was hailed by leading figures in motor sport for helping to improve medical facilities and safety in motor racing worldwide.

Formula One driver Mark Webber, representing the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) at the Summit, expressed his delight at the continued progress being made by the FIA Institute in motor sport safety. He said: “With the FIA Institute working hard with a Summit meeting like this and just flagging up lots of different subjects which can be thrown into a brain-storming session, it serves to increase our knowledge and expertise for the safety of our sport.”

His Excellency Dr Faisal Yacob Al Hamer, who heads the Bahrain Ministry of Health, delivered the keynote address to open the event. He said: “This FIA Institute Summit will hopefully lead to effective recommendations, suggestions and ideas that shall promote safety, and enhance and upgrade the medical care provided during all motor sport events held worldwide.”

Ron Dennis, McLaren Group Chairman and CEO, was effusive in his praise for the Summit and the work of the FIA Institute. He said: “The rule changes brought in by the FIA and FIA Institute over the last few years have undoubtedly saved drivers’ lives. It’s impressive too that here in Bahrain, there is an FIA Institute Safety Summit featuring the launch of the FIA Institute Medical Faculty.”

The event was chaired by FIA Institute President Professor Sid Watkins, with more than 150 senior medical professionals from around the world among the delegation. Watkins has spent most of his career campaigning for improvements in motor sport safety and for the creation of important events such as this FIA Institute summit.

Dennis added: “The work of Professor Sid Watkins has just been outstanding over the years. What he has brought to the sport is the very necessary scientific approach to the development of safety.”

As a recently awarded FIA Institute Centre of Excellence, the Bahrain International Circuit was chosen to play host to this prestigious event. The theme of this year’s Summit was Medicine in Motor Sport with specialist doctors, chief medical officers and leading practitioners giving presentations on this subject.

Professor Gérard Saillant, Deputy President of the FIA Institute and one of the leading orthopaedic surgeons in the world, gave a presentation on Whiplash and Severe Spraining of the Cervical Spine.

Dr. Steve Olvey, associate professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami and medical consultant to the Indianapolis 500 race, presented on the use of ImPACT in professional motor sport.

Dr Michael Henderson, Chairman of the Australian Institute of Motor Sport Safety, spoke on the subject of trauma reduction in Motor Sport.

David Vissenga, Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Grand Prix, talked about the recent Australian Formula One Training Day.

The aim of the Summit is to help develop medical excellence across all motor sport and use this to set a benchmark for medical excellence in other sports, as well as across the Gulf region.

Delegates included representatives of the GPDA, senior representatives of racing and rally teams, manufacturers, promoters, circuit administrators and medical practitioners.

The event follows the success of the inaugural FIA Institute Safety Summit, which took place at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track and focussed on the subject of risk management in motor sport.