New FIA Historic Motorsport Committee

The slimming down of the FIA has proved difficult for Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who promised to streamline the organisation.  The forming of the 2024 Commissions and Committees has been a challenge, as wrangling over who should be in and who should be out has meant that, so far, the make-up of the various Committees and Commissions has not yet been ratified, and therefore cannot yet be announced.

What we do know about our own historic department is that John Naylor from Ireland has stepped down as President of the Historic Commission, and will be replaced by Roger Wills, originally from New Zealand but now living in, and representing the UK, to head the new FIA Historic Motor Sport Committee.  As a Committee it is elevated in the FIA hierarchy.

John Naylor said in his thank you letter to the ASNs, “I want to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your support, advice, and friendship during my time as President.  I believe that this survival as the Historic Motor Sport Committee is only due to the show of solidarity by so many of you members in having your Presidents write to President Ben Sulayem last year.”

Roger Wills said, “I am very honoured to have been appointed President of the FIA Historic Motor Sport Committee and for the trust and confidence given to me by the World Motor Sport Council to take on this role.  The sizes of all FIA committees/commissions have been cut this year as part of the restructuring so there are still some discussions on the final composition of the HMSC.  I hope these are finalised and announced in the coming weeks and we can get to work.”

He told HMRN, “As part of the restructuring, the reporting lines for historic motor sport have moved from “Road Sport” to “Circuit Sport” and from my initial discussions with my counterparts within the FIA management team, I am very optimistic that the importance of historic motor sport is being recognised by the FIA and that I will develop good working relationships with the FIA team.”

A racer himself, racing in several historic series, Wills is a familiar face in the paddock and knows the concerns of the historic racing community well.

This is very positive news, considering only a short while ago we had well-founded fears that the whole historic department would be abolished.  We extend out thanks to John Naylor for his time as President and for all his efforts to bring this positive outcome about.