FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has nominated a new deputy president for sport following the resignation of Robert Reid earlier this month.
The sport’s governing body will vote in June on whether to approve Ben Sulayem’s nominee, M-Sport boss and British Rally champion Malcolm Wilson.Reid resigned the post two weeks ago following a dispute over the FIA’s introduction of new confidentiality measures. He was barred from a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council for refusing to agree to the new restrictions.
Wilson won the 1994 British Rally Championship in a Ford Escort Cosworth and now runs M-Sport which operates the blue oval’s World Rally Championship programme. He steered them to manufacturers’ championship wins in 2006, 2007 and 2017.
“Malcolm has had a distinguished career in global motor sport,” said Ben Sulayem. “For over 40 years he has competed at the highest level both as a driver and technical partner to teams.
“This experience will be invaluable to the FIA and our member clubs as we continue to grow grassroots and professional motor sport, driving innovation in the sport to benefit fans, drivers and teams.”
If approved, Wilson will fill the role until December, when the next FIA presidential elections are due to go ahead. However no rival has yet come forward to challenge Ben Sulayem, who began his first team as president in 2021.
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Wilson said it is “a great honour to be nominated for the role of FIA deputy president for sport.
“The FIA has played a central role in my career, and I very much look forward to supporting the president and all the FIA family in its important mission. There has never been a more exciting time to be in motor sport, and I know first-hand the benefits the sport brings to families and communities across the world.”
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Jere (@jerejj)
23rd April 2025, 10:34
I’ve known of Malcolm Wilson through his long career in the rallying world ever since I started watching & following WRC in 2004, the same year as F1.
Merely looking at the title, I initially failed to realize the Wilson name is a reference to M-Sport founder Malcolm.
He’s one of the many long-time motorsport individuals I’ve always had a particularly high respect towards & I admire that he still has the motivation to run a team on rallying’s highest level these days, even if he hasn’t been a TP for a while anymore since Richard Millener inherited that position in 2019.
Anyway, since a former co-driver, Robert Reid used to be the deputy president, I’m unsurprised that MBS chose to nominate another individual familiar with the rallying world.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
23rd April 2025, 11:26
Seems like a shrewd move from Ben Sulayem, Wilson certainly brings plenty of credibility. I’m not sure what Malcolm gets out of this, unless maybe he himself has aspirations for being president one day. FIA will probably always be a ‘rocky boat’, but I feel unnecessarily so in recent times. Maybe Malcolm is what it needs. Dave Richards and Malcolm Wilson having lunch together might be interesting.
anon
23rd April 2025, 13:36
He might not be allowed to stand as a candidate, as he will potentially reach the age limit for presidential candidates before the election takes place (Sulayem lowered the age limit last year, mainly to stop some potential rival candidates from standing).
MichaelN
23rd April 2025, 13:54
The FIA did that. This isn’t a monarchy. Lowering the age from 75 to 70 is a small change, and a good one considering the responsibilities and length of the appointment. Being FIA president isn’t a hobby for retirees.
anon
23rd April 2025, 15:07
That is a rather discriminatory attitude to take – why are you writing off individuals that could undertake that role solely on the grounds of age?
Would you have said that Stoker, the other candidate for president of the FIA in the last election, would be incapable of leading the organisation if he had been elected (as he would now be too old to serve under the lower age limit)? Is Stoker unfit to serve as Deputy President of the FIA at his current age in your view and should be forced to retire?
Derek Edwards
23rd April 2025, 12:54
That’s one way to rally support, I guess…
S Arkaizam
23rd April 2025, 17:09
As someone who has followed motorsport for decades, I find the nomination of Malcolm Wilson as FIA Deputy President for Sport both intriguing and promising. Wilson’s extensive experience as a rally driver and founder of M-Sport, which has been instrumental in Ford’s World Rally Championship successes, positions him well to bring a fresh perspective to the FIA’s leadership. His deep understanding of the sport’s grassroots and technical aspects could be invaluable in addressing the challenges facing motorsport today.
However, the circumstances surrounding this nomination cannot be overlooked. The resignation of Robert Reid, citing a “fundamental breakdown in governance standards” within the FIA, raises concerns about the organization’s internal dynamics. Wilson’s appointment comes at a critical juncture, and his ability to navigate these complexities will be crucial.
It’s also noteworthy that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, himself a former rally driver, has chosen someone from the rallying world for this key position. This could signal a shift towards a more inclusive approach that values diverse motorsport disciplines. I hope this leads to a more balanced representation within the FIA, ensuring that all facets of motorsport are given due consideration.
In conclusion, while Wilson’s nomination brings hope for positive change, it also underscores the need for transparency and effective governance within the FIA. As fans and stakeholders, we will be watching closely to see how these developments unfold.