March 26, 2026 RNW Staff 0

World Motor Sport Council Looks Ahead to Year of Sustainable Growth with New Championships and Events

The first 2026 meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council has been held today, 26 March, via video conference with a number of Members also attending in person at the FIA’s London office. The meeting was also the first of the World Motor Sport Council’s new composition following the re-election of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem during the 2025 FIA General Assemblies held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The FIA President welcomed new and returning members to World Council and congratulated them on their election. Abdulrahman Al Mannai (Qatar), Fernand Axel Fourgon (Monaco), Andrew Fraser (Australia), Pierre Gosselin (France), Antonino Geronimo La Russa (Italy) and Kevin Miller (USA) have all joined World Council for the first time and Koichi Murata (Japan) returns as a World Motor Sport Council member.

The FIA President opened the meeting by remarking on the impressive starts to the FIA Formula One World Championship, FIA World Rally Championship and FIA World Rally-Raid Championship seasons which have already delivered some thrilling racing and iconic rallying moments just a few months into the calendar, while the ongoing twelfth season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship shapes up to be another keenly-contested series.

With new races and championships debuting in 2026, including last weekend’s Formula E Madrid e-Prix, the upcoming inaugural Formula 1 Gran Premio de España also in Madrid, the first FIA Rallycross World Cup in Indonesia, and the new FIA Karting Arrive and Drive Continental Championships in Europe, South America and Asia-Pacific, the calendar promises an action‑packed year of racing and rallying ahead for fans across the globe.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, addressed the Council, saying:  “While the start of the year has, at times, been shaped by global uncertainty, I am proud that the spirit of the FIA and of motorsport has continued to endure and thrive. We have raced across the world and seen the start of championship campaigns.

“The newly introduced FIA F1 2026 regulations have been tested in the season’s opening races, and we continue to collaborate closely with teams, PU manufacturers, OEMs, and our promoter. Like every new regulation cycle, the cars will evolve as we all learn. The 2026 regulations are the shared vision of everyone with a stake in Formula 1’s future.

“And, just last weekend, we were honoured to welcome His Majesty King Felipe of Spain to Formula E as the championship took place in Madrid for the first time ever. This landmark moment is a testament to the passion and excitement that motorsport inspires globally. United, we continue to pursue our mission: to deliver motorsport that is safe, exciting and sustainable for everyone.” 

The World Council received an update from FIA Deputy President for Sport, Malcolm Wilson OBE, regarding the ongoing tender process for a new promoter for the FIA World Rally Championship. Council members were informed that discussions are progressing and that the conclusion of the process is expected very soon. Throughout the process, the FIA has prioritised the identification of a candidate with a strong long‑term vision for the Championship to secure its sustained growth and success.

The World Council also reflected on the success of the recent fourth edition of FIA Safety Week, supported by the FIA Foundation. Fifteen online sessions brought together the global motor sport community for a week of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Over 4,000 people from 122 FIA Member Clubs (ASNs) joined a range of sessions from closed road to circuit safety to research and medical, drawing on the expertise and guidance from over 50 speakers during the week. Council members were updated on the positive response to the event and on early plans for a fifth edition in early 2027.

The following is a summary of decisions taken at today’s World Motor Sport Council meeting: 

Streamlined 2026 FIA Karting Arrive and Drive Structure Announced

An updated calendar has been confirmed for the 2026 FIA Karting Arrive and Drive championships to further increase the accessibility of the format and offer more opportunities for young drivers to compete on the global stage.

Brazil has been confirmed as the host of the South American Arrive and Drive Championship which will take place as a single round at the Kartódromo Internacional de Imperatriz over 2-4 October 2026, subject to circuit homologation.

The World Council also approved streamlining the 2026 Arrive and Drive European Championship which will now be held as a single round event at the Autodrom Słomczyn in Poland from 17-19 July. The decision to update the championship structure from three rounds to one was made following constructive consultation with competitors and FIA member clubs (ASNs) where it was agreed this structure would broaden the reach of the championship and reduce the commitment required to participate in Arrive and Drive this year.

To further expand the accessibility of the Arrive and Drive format, the World Council also approved a proposal for competitors to pay their entry fee for the Asia-Pacific Championship in three instalments. Whilst Arrive and Drive offers a more affordable route for young drivers to participate internationally, this increased flexibility reflects the unique three-round structure of the Asia-Pacific Championship.

Akbar Ebrahim, FIA Karting Commission President, said: “We launched Arrive and Drive last year to offer more drivers across the world the platform to begin their climb up the motor sport pyramid and this refreshed calendar will strengthen that pathway. Hosting the South American Arrive and Drive Championship in Brazil will certainly be one of the highlights of the 2026 season and a clear statement of how we’re making FIA Karting more globally accessible and inclusive.”

Safety Device Approved by FIA to Support Drivers with Disabilities

Following approval from World Council today, the fibreglass high seat can be used in karting races aligned to the FIA Karting Guidelines for Drivers with Disabilities document. The seat functions by providing additional attachment points for competitors who require safety belt anchoring to support torso stability, offering drivers with disabilities additional support to enable them to race safely.

The development of the device was led by FIA Disability & Accessibility Commission member and driver Fabio Visentin and Vita Carbon, who worked with the support of the FIA Safety Department to design and manufacture the seat with roll hoop which has recently been homologated by the FIA. It is envisaged that the device, which is optional for drivers with disabilities competing in karting, will support a new generation of racers with disabilities into the entry point of motor sport.

Fabio Visentin, Member of the FIA Disability & Accessibility Commission, said: “The development and testing of this new roll hoop represent a significant step forward for the safety of karters with disabilities. Ensuring that every driver can compete with the highest protection standards is our top priority. Our goal was to create a product that was not only safe and rigorously tested but also high-performing, ensuring it does not interfere with the chassis’ flexibility. Karters with disabilities now have access to a product that has all these features, and I want to thank Vita Carbon for the development and the FIA for their support in this project.”

Nuno Costa, FIA Safety Director, said: “Safety should complement accessibility and we’ve been proud to work on this project with Fabio to raise safety standards for karting drivers with disabilities. The karting high seat is a simple but important innovation that facilitates drivers to safety compete and I hope it will provide every karting driver with disabilities with greater confidence and independence.”

Changes made to driver extrication methods in single seater categories

Since 1999 the removable extractable seat has been used to extricate drivers whilst attached to their seat with the assumption of an isolated spinal injury and in the absence of any other pressing medical need. Now that pre-hospital immediate care has emerged as a specialty this method has some drawbacks and the medical priority has evolved. Furthermore, the subsequent introduction of the HANS system and forward impact protection HALO device has made seat extrication more complex and less necessary, as there are quicker and more suitable ways to extract a driver.

Seat extrication has now been withdrawn and the Boa, Short Board and Rapid extrication methods will be deployed. To reflect this, the list of equipment required to be carried by medical and rescue teams has been updated. Read more

Amended regulations regarding the use of eyewear during competition

Regulations regarding the use of eyewear to correct eyesight and protect drivers and co-drivers against glare in sunny or snowy conditions were approved by World Council. This amendment, together with the regulation, specifies that only FIA-homologated accessories attached to the helmet are authorised during competition and tech-enabled eyewear is therefore prohibited.

2026 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar updated

As announced on March 13, World Motor Sport Council approved by e-vote the revised 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar, with the Qatar 1812km race, which was originally scheduled as the season opener, moved to an October date, thus becoming the penultimate round of the season. Full statement here.

2026 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour calendar updated

The revised calendar of the 2026 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour has been approved by World Council, with the opening round now taking place at Italy’s Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.