Latest news with #FédérationInternationaledel'Automobile

Kyalami's bold upgrade to FIA Grade 1 paves the way for Formula 1's return to SA

IOL News

3 days ago

Automotive
IOL News

Kyalami's bold upgrade to FIA Grade 1 paves the way for Formula 1's return to SA

The Kyalami Grand Prix circuit is about to undergo a metamorphosis as it gears up to become FIA Grade 1 compliant. The Kyalami Grand Prix circuit is about to undergo a metamorphosis as it gears up to become Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Grade 1 compliant. The facility's multi-use functionality includes conferences, shows, exhibitions, activations and lifestyle events that remain central to its commercial model. The current 4.522km layout, upgraded in 2016, already holds FIA Grade 2 certification and the Kyalami precinct has proven itself as a successful and self-sustaining venue with year-round commercial activity. At a press conference held at Kyalami, circuit owner Toby Venter said that between $5-10 million will be spent over the next three years to ensure that the circuit is the only Formula 1 compliant track on the continent. Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit has received confirmation that the FIA has accepted final design proposals to upgrade the circuit to Grade 1 status. Government South Africa has been crying out to be included on the F1 calendar and this could be the silver bullet. However, since Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie's high profile visits and photo opportunities with FIA and F1 owners and Liberty Media executives, things have gone quiet. McKenzie is quoted as saying that the success of his position rests on him being able to bring an F1 race to South Africa. His department has taken bids from interested parties, with the most successful bid presented to the FIA. However, according to Double Apex, none of the bids were adequate, and as a result no promoter has yet been appointed to pitch to the governing body. Own agenda Asked whether the upgrades to Kyalami wasn't putting the cart before the horse, considering the seemingly stalled progress from government, Venter said: 'Kyalami has its own agenda and we want it to live up to its legacy, we also call ourselves a Grand Prix Circuit and we wanted to take out that one point where everyone said 'Kyalami is not ready'. 'Ultimately we don't know what the government's plan or agenda is but we can manage our situation here, and irrespective of Formula 1, we're looking to improve Kyalami that will enhance events for people that host events here. That's our plan, irrespective of what else is going on.' The circuit has received confirmation that the FIA has accepted final design proposals to upgrade the circuit to Grade 1 status. Clive Bowen, founder and director of UK-based Apex Circuit Design, detailed a plan which has been ongoing for five years, culminating in FIA approval of the venue's upgrade design. Apex, an internationally recognised circuit design house also steered the design of, among others, the Miami Formula 1 street circuit.

F1 – The Movie: Brad Pitt's latest follows usual sports movie formula to get over the line

Irish Independent

4 days ago

Entertainment
Irish Independent

F1 – The Movie: Brad Pitt's latest follows usual sports movie formula to get over the line

A vibrant, extravagant crowd-pleaser, the kind that Tom Cruise likes to make in between Mission: Impossible outings, F1: The Movie was purposely designed to make audiences sweat, to get the blood pumping, to somehow convince us Formula One racing is the only sport worth caring about. It isn't, not by a long shot, but Pitt's film, directed by Top Gun: Maverick chief Joseph Kosinski, comes with a rumoured $300m budget. It was also produced with the full cooperation of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), governing body of the Formula One World Championship. In other words, this pricey, confident picture looks and, indeed, sounds the part. Everything is dialled up to 11. If Pitt's swanky motor misses a corner, we feel it in our gut. If one of his opponents spins and crashes, you start to worry for their safety. Throw in a muscular dad-rock soundtrack – a bit of Led Zeppelin here, some Queen there – and this thing will rattle your bones and loosen the screws in your seat. Mind you, all the money in the world won't fix an iffy screenplay, and F1: The Movie (that title stinks, by the way) is about as derivative a sports drama as they come. Swap the cars out for fighter jets, and you have a Top Gun picture. Give Pitt's protagonist a fedora and a leather coat, and he might pass for Rocky. With various real-life professionals lending a hand (Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton is a producer), Kosinski's film comes dangerously close to resembling a glorified commercial for the FIA. What next, you wonder? FIFA World Cup: The Motion Picture? Tour de France: The Mini-Series? You wouldn't bet against it, and Pitt and his co-stars, Javier Bardem (devouring the scenery) and Kerry Condon (explaining the technical bits), are forced to dance around one too many hilarious product placements. Listen, if it helps pay the bills. Our story begins, as these things usually do, with a heady blast of rock and roll. Say hello to Sonny Hayes (Pitt), a driver-for-hire who used to have the world at his feet. ADVERTISEMENT Back in the 1990s, Sonny was the next big thing in Formula One. A gnarly accident changed everything – so, too, did a rotten gambling addiction – and our ageless hero now lives out of his van. There is no silver lining, no five-year plan. Today, he might help one squad win the 24 Hours of Daytona; tomorrow, who knows? Enter Ruben Cervantes (Bardem), owner of the Apex Grand Prix team. The Apex crew have had a rough season – they need a win, maybe even a miracle, and Ruben, an old pal of Sonny's, needs someone special to help him from going broke. He needs Sonny to drive again, basically. Before you can say 'nice wheels', Sonny is back on the track, where he belongs, much to the annoyance of Apex hotshot Joshua 'JP' Pearce (Damson Idris) and technical director Kate McKenna (Condon, holding on tight to the Tipperary accent). You'll hardly need to be told what happens next. Yes, the veteran driver clashes with the rookie superstar. Yes, the brainy car people invent new ways to drive faster. Meanwhile, poor Kate inevitably falls for beautiful Brad, and at least one of our contenders ends up in the hospital. F1: The Movie won't win any points for originality, but I guess we're not here to watch Pitt rewrite the sports feature rulebook. Some patterns are there to be followed, and this noisy, exuberant enterprise is happy to oblige. Kosinski's joint isn't quite as gripping as, say, Ron Howard's Rush, nor is it as charming as James Mangold's Ford v Ferrari. Those films had a decent story under their hoods; not this one, and the flashy, cinematic sports ad stops being fun whenever Sonny and his pals exit their vehicles. Enthusiastic performances help. Condon (delightful, as ever) and Bardem (collecting a well-deserved pay cheque here) make the most of a hackneyed set-up, and our central warrior is his usual unflappable self. Pitt has now entered his Paul Newman phase: he makes everything sound good, even when it isn't. But I do wonder if another old-school movie star might have been better for the role. We mentioned a more suitable candidate's name at the top. Worth a trip to the pictures, all the same. Three stars

World Endurance Championship Prologue & Season Opener 2026

ILoveQatar.net

6 days ago

Automotive
ILoveQatar.net

World Endurance Championship Prologue & Season Opener 2026

Qatar to Host World Endurance Championship Prologue and Season Opener Following Le Mans 2026 Calendar Reveal

Qatar Living

6 days ago

Automotive
Qatar Living

Qatar to Host World Endurance Championship Prologue and Season Opener Following Le Mans 2026 Calendar Reveal

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) announced the 2026 World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar in Le Mans on 13 June, confirming Qatar's continued role in launching the new season with both the Prologue testing sessions and the opening championship round March 22-28 , making it one of the 8 circuits around to world to host WEC in 2026. For the third time, Lusail International Circuit (LIC) will welcome the premier endurance racing series with the Prologue sessions scheduled from March 22-23, allowing teams and drivers to fine-tune their Hypercars and LMGT3 machines ahead of the competitive season. The official championship action will commence shortly afterwards with the Qatar 1812 KM race being held from March 26-28. Named in honour of Qatar's National Day, this endurance contest will once again test competitors as they race from daylight into darkness, a maximum of ten hours across the 5.38km, 16-turn circuit. The circuit's characteristics – featuring a flat, high-speed layout with minimal elevation changes and maximum grip – continue to provide an ideal proving ground for the sport's most advanced prototypes and production-based GT cars. The 16 turns combined with the kilometre-long main straight demand peak performance from both machinery and drivers. Following success in 2024 and 2025, the Qatar rounds have established themselves as unmissable fixtures on the WEC calendar, attracting the world's leading automotive manufacturers including Porsche, Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, Aston Martin, Peugeot, Alpine, and BMW in the premier Hypercar category. The LMGT3 class will feature equally fierce competition among marques such as Corvette, Lexus, Ferrari, BMW, and Mercedes-AMG. Stay tuned for further ticketing information. --- Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content. Instagram - @qatarliving X - @qatarliving Facebook - Qatar Living YouTube - qatarlivingofficial

Business Wire

09-06-2025

Automotive
Business Wire

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Looking Forward to Visiting ‘Iconic' Macau for the 2025 FIA Annual Conference

MACAU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, will shortly be in Macau for the 2025 FIA Extraordinary General Assembly and Annual Conference. Marking the first time this event has ever taken place in this diverse region, the conference will be hosted in partnership with the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC) and Galaxy Entertainment Group and held at the Galaxy International Convention Centre. The event will welcome over 500 senior FIA delegates across mobility and motorsport from 149 countries, offering the opportunity to address key initiatives in road safety, sustainable mobility, regional sporting growth, and innovation in transport, with the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in attendance. Speaking ahead of his visit to Macau, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: 'Global gatherings like this are vital to the health of our federation. Bringing our community together allows us an invaluable opportunity for engagement and participation, particularly within a pivotal election year. 'The Members of the FIA are at the heart of everything we do, and I am looking forward to being inspired by and connected to them over the next few days, strengthening the link between sport and mobility, expanding our reach, and continuing to impact the global stage. 'I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together during my first term in office and look forward to continuing that partnership going forward. I am committed to the transformation of the FIA, so it can be an even more positive force for society. Globally, we remain committed to growing motorsport participation through grassroots initiatives and accessibility programmes such as the Affordable Cross Car and the Global Karting Plan. 'At the same time, we continue to empower all regions through our mobility capabilities, maintaining a central role in the automotive industry and leading the dialogue on the future of sustainable cities, safety, and transport.' Commenting on the location of this year's conference, Ben Sulayem said: 'Macau is iconic within the world of motorsport and a fitting location for the FIA to host one of the most important weeks of our calendar. I look forward to seeing much of what this unique destination has to offer.' The conference follows the FIA's recent announcement regarding the FIA's significant financial turnaround and strongest results in almost ten years. Reporting a profit of €4.7m, and an operating income of €182m for 2024, this puts the FIA back in the black following the inheritance of a €-24.0m deficit in 2021 from the previous administration. The conference will be attended by representatives from the 245 FIA Member Clubs. This structure forms the backbone of the federation's governance and operations, with each full Member Club holding voting rights across the FIA's elections and regulatory decisions. Clubs are grouped into two primary categories, with some serving in both roles: Mobility Clubs – provide mobility services and represent the interest of road users, with a focus on road safety, travel and tourism, consumer rights, and sustainable mobility National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) – govern and develop motorsport at a national level, are responsible for sporting events, issuing licenses, and engagement across regulations The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility. Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 245 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including seven FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all. The 2025 FIA Conference is hosted in association with Galaxy Entertainment Group and will be held at the International Convention Centre from 10-12 June. The Galaxy International Convention Centre is situated within the Galaxy Macau Integrated Resort which regularly plays host to world class sporting and conference events, and international exhibitions.