Professor Sid Watkins has retired from the FIA Institute Presidency at the Annual General Assembly of the Institute in Delhi today. Following the announcement and with the unanimous support of the General Assembly, former Deputy President, Professor Gérard Saillant, was elected as the Institute’s new President. Executive Committee member Garry Connelly was elected as the new Deputy President. Nominated by the SMSA, the Singapore ASN, Colin Syn was elected to the Institute’s Executive Committee. Following the elections, Professor Watkins was unanimously elected as the first Honorary President of the FIA Institute and will continue to be an ambassador for its important programmes across the world. On the occasion of his retirement the Executive Committee and membership of the Institute presented Professor Watkins with a bronze statue as a tribute to all he has achieved in a remarkable 50-year career in motor sport.

“It has been an honour and a great pleasure to lead the Institute since its establishment,” said Watkins. “I am very proud of our achievements and our plans for the future, both in terms of motor sport safety and sustainability. I look forward to continue making a modest contribution to these in my new capacity as Honorary President.”

“Sid’s influence in motor sport is legendary,” said Institute Secretary General Richard Woods. “In everything he’s done throughout his career, he has always been a leader in his field. He led the calls for improved safety throughout the 1980s and ever since has been the catalyst for its continuous development by the FIA and more recently by the Institute. Sid’s legacy for the cause of safety in our sport is unique.”