Malcolm Wilson’s Nomination for FIA Deputy President for Sport

British Rally Championship winner and M-Sport founder, Malcolm Wilson, has been nominated by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem as his preferred candidate to succeed Robert Reid in the role of the governing body’s deputy president for sport. This decision will be put to a vote at the extraordinary general assemblies and conference in Macau in June.

The Resignation of Robert Reid and the Nomination of Malcolm Wilson

Reid resigned from his role earlier this month, citing a ‘standards breakdown’ and expressing concerns about decisions being made behind closed doors, bypassing the very structures and people the FIA exists to represent. Wilson, with his extensive experience in motor sports, has been nominated to fill this vacancy.

Wilson is a prominent figure in the world of rallying, both as a driver and an entrepreneur. His long-standing relationship with Ford led him to win the British Rally Championship in 1994, and M-Sport went on to win the World Rally Championship for manufacturers in 2006 and 2007.

Wilson was awarded the Order of the British Empire in HM The Queen’s birthday honours list in 2009 for services to motorsport. M-Sport, based in Dovenby Hall near Cockermouth, Cumbria, has weathered challenges such as Ford’s withdrawal as a works entity, thanks to Wilson’s entrepreneurial spirit. Beyond rallying, M-Sport has built customer engines for the British Touring Car Championship, run Bentley’s GT3 campaign, and partnered with Jaguar on the i-PACE eTROPHY support series for Formula E.

The FIA’s Official Statement and Wilson’s Response

In the FIA’s official statement, Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed his delight at nominating Malcolm Wilson OBE for the role of FIA deputy president for sport. He highlighted Wilson’s extensive experience in global motor sports and his ability to contribute significantly to the FIA and its member clubs as they continue to grow grassroots and professional motor sports, driving innovation in the sport to benefit fans, drivers, and teams.

Wilson expressed his gratitude for the nomination, expressing his excitement about supporting the president and the FIA family in their important mission. He also looked forward to working with the president for the duration of his current term of office, bringing motor sports to new audiences and ensuring they deliver the best championships for all competitors.

Ben Sulayem’s current term of office ends this year; he is up for re-election in December.