
4 September 2013
Motorsport South Africa (MSA) has been presented with the FIA Institute’s Officials Award for the Achievement of Excellence after demonstrating the highest standards of motor sport marshalling and training. The FIA is world motor sport’s governing body.
MSA is the first national sporting authority in Africa to receive the award and will now become an official FIA Institute regional training provider. As a regional training provider, it can help to train other national sporting authorities, with financial support from the Motor Sport Safety Development Fund.
African Workshop
FIA president Jean Todt and FIA Institute president Gerard Saillant presented the Achievement of Excellence award to MSA CEO Adrian Scholtz at the FIA Institute’s African workshop in Botswana on 29 August.
The event, chaired by Kenya Motor Sports Foundation secretary-general Surinder Thatthi, also featured a practical exercise on environmental sustainability, as well as an update on the fund and presentation on the Young Driver Excellence Academy.
Todt, a former rally driver best known for his time in charge of the Ferrari Formula One team, said at the presentation: “It is important to have a top training provider in Africa. Motorsport South Africa can now share its expertise with other national sporting authorities and help raise the training and safety standards across the region.”
‘Guidance and support’
Saillant commented: “The regional training provider initiative is particularly important in regions where the motor sport infrastructure at grass roots level needs guidance and support.
“I would like to encourage national sporting authorities across Africa to work with the MSA to further raise standards of marshalling and training.”
MSA President Steve Miller said: “It is a tribute to our hard-working staff and volunteer officials that we have reached this significant milestone in our development.
“The appointment as Africa’s first regional training provider affords us the opportunity to contribute to the development and promotion of safe motor sport on our continent.”
SAinfo reporter