FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Meets Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Focus on Shared Motorsport Priorities
Rallying legend honoured by two Lebanese Presidents says Rally of Lebanon has key position in plans to make sure long-term way forward for FIA Center East Rally Championship
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, met with Lebanese President His Excellency Joseph Aoun in the present day after attending the Rally of Lebanon, an occasion he gained 4 occasions in a distinguished rally driving profession which established him as a sporting ambassador for the Arab world.
The assembly at Baabda Palace supplied a chance to mirror on the continued success of the occasion, and Lebanon’s place as a rallying stronghold within the Center East.
Ben Sulayem accepted an official invitation from the Car and Touring Membership of Lebanon and President Nabil ‘Billy’ Karam to attend the forty eighth Rally of Lebanon. The fourth spherical of this yr’s FIA Center East Rally Championship reached its end on the ATCL in Kaslik, Jounieh final night time (Sunday) with victory going to Lebanon’s Roger Feghali and co-driver Joseph Matar.
“I used to be happy to fulfill with President Aoun and talk about our shared priorities for the way forward for motorsport,” stated FIA President Ben Sulayem. “The Rally of Lebanon supplied me with many nice reminiscences throughout my rally driving profession, and I’m thrilled to as soon as once more expertise the joy this occasion creates for opponents and the nation’s passionate motor sport followers.”
“The occasion has a wealthy historical past embedded within the origins of Center East motorsport. It’s firmly established as the house for asphalt rallying within the area, and performs a key position in our plans to make sure the long-term way forward for the FIA Center East Rally Championship.
“Lebanon has at all times felt like a particular place for me, and I wish to thank the ATCL and its President, Nabil Karam, for his or her heat welcome and hospitality. I’m delighted to have met up once more with a number of the pals I’ve made on the membership, and throughout the nation through the years.”
Ben Sulayem’s legendary rally-driving achievements introduced him widespread recognition, and he was awarded the President’s Cup by Lebanese President Amine Gemayel in 1987, and the Medal of Honour from Lebanese President Emile Lahoud in 1999.
Every of his 4 victories within the Rally of Lebanon, in 1987, 1991, 1998 and 1999, helped him safe the FIA Center East Rally Championship title, which he gained 14 occasions total. He achieved the final three of these victories alongside his long-time co-driver Ronan Morgan.
Past his success in Center East rallying, Ben Sulayem recorded his first abroad win in Turkey in 1991, and secured World Rally Championship Group N victories in Spain and Argentina over the next two years. He retired from aggressive rallying in 2002.
In July, the FIA introduced a landmark long-term business rights settlement for the FIA WRC and FIA European Rally Championship, following the acquisition of WRC Promoter GmbH by Cosmobilis and Park Sq. Capital. Designed to convey vital new funding into the game, the most important deal within the historical past of those championships supported the FIA’s imaginative and prescient below President Ben Sulayem, who stated on the time: “Rallying is a large a part of my private story. It has formed who I’m and the way I work, and I’m deeply dedicated to its future.”
ENDS
Concerning the FIA
The Fédération Internationale de l’Car (FIA) is the governing physique for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It’s a non-profit organisation dedicated to driving innovation and championing security, sustainability and equality throughout motor sport and mobility.
Based in 1904, with places of work in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings collectively 246 Member Organisations throughout 5 continents, representing hundreds of thousands of highway customers, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces laws for motor sport, together with seven FIA World Championships, to make sure worldwide competitions are protected and truthful for all.
