Every year the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) holds the FIA Sport Conference (FIA SC) which is attended by representatives from 245 FIA member organizations in 143 countries. The governing body of four-wheeled motorsports globally, the Paris-based FIA has chosen Manila to host this year’s annual meet.

Slated this June 4 to 6, 2018, the FIA SC will gather some 400 delegates from FIA National Sporting Authorities (NSAs) and mobility clubs around the world. This is the first time the FIA SC will be held in Asia.

The 2018 FIA SC includes the MotorEx, an industry-themed showcase and platform for the analysis of future trends and opportunities in motor sport and featuring key decision-makers, event promoters, and leading figures from racing and rallying.

As the FIA’s NSA in the Philippines, the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) with the support of the Department of Tourism (DOT) will host the Conference. Corporate sponsors to the event include Petron as the official fuel partner, SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation (BMW Philippines) and Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. as logistics partners.

Last week, FIA Sport Conference Project Director Frederique Trouve formally turned over the hosting of the 2018 FIA Sport Conference to AAP President Gus Lagman in the presence of FIA Events Manager Martin Lalande , DOT Undersecretary Allan Canizal, and co-chairpersons of the 2018 FIA SC  National Organizing Council Committee: Government Sector Chairperson/DOT Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre, Private Sector Chairperson/AAP Trustee and Tourism and Travel Committee Chairperson Mina T. Gabor, and Private Sector Co-Chairperson/AAP Trustee and Motor Sport Chairperson Mandy Eduque.

“AAP has been very active in participating in FIA conferences and we have seen their loyalty and motivation in promoting motor sport among the youth through efforts such as the Motor Sport Development Program,” Trouve said. “They have also organized many activities in terms of training in road safety.”

At this year’s Sport Conference, the FIA plans to integrate road safety with motor sport. “We need to educate the new generation about motor sport.” Trouve said “One of the most difficult things to do is to attract the youth to the sport and we aim to do this through road safety.”

Aside from the MotorEx, Lalande said that the schedule will include a seminar for senior officials in the region before the conference.

Other possible activities demonstrations and motorsport activities like drifting, auto cross, slalom, e-karting, and/or the FIA-certified online Gran Turismo Asian Regional Finals Championship. The FIA plans to invite school children to the extrication demo and some motor sport events aside from opening selected activities to the general public.