Motorsport UK chairman David Richards has taken aim at the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and his governance of the sport, claiming the situation had “progressively worsened” under his leadership.
Writing an address to Motorsport UK members, Richards, who was recently prevented from attending a World Motor Sport Council meeting after refusing to sign an Non-disclosure agreement, highlighted “concerns about the erosion of accountability and good governance within the FIA”.
In a lengthly missive, Richards explained his decision to initially backed Ben Sulayem’s election campaign only to explain how there had been “a distinct failure to meet these promises”.
Richards explains how he feels Ben Sulayem had failed to deliver on his manifesto promises and is also concerned about the recent departures from the FIA.
Ben Sulayem has also recently pushed through changes to the organisation’s governance structure to dilute the ethics and audit committee’s power.
Richards has now offered a legal challenge to the FIA on its actions but has yet to receive a reply from the governing body. It is a devastating blow to Ben Sulayem’s reputation in a year where he is preparing for re-election.
