What is the Federation Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA) and why was it created?
The FIA was created in 1904. One of its first tasks was to formulate restrictions to improve the safety of racing drivers and spectators, and to guide motor sport in a direction which would benefit the development of road cars, thus setting a pattern which has been repeated throughout the long history of motor sport. Prior to 1904, it was virtually impossible to organize international races, since there were no common regulations. The most influential automobile clubs of the time therefore decided to create an international organization, which would draw up common regulations, applicable to all international races. This led to the birth of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (the FIA), which was thus able to guarantee competitors that the same rules would apply wherever they were racing. 8.
