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FIA Press Releases

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to Attend Prestigious Monaco Grand Prix as Formula 1 Enters a New Era
FIA news
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, will shortly be in Monaco for the FIA Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Grand Prix de Monaco, with H.E Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, in attendance at the iconic street circuit.
Against the unique backdrop of Monte Carlo’s streets, Monaco will provide one of the most demanding tests of driver skill, technical precision, and operational excellence, with the race remaining one of the most prestigious and iconic events on the global motorsport calendar. This weekend’s race will mark the first European round of the season, underlining Monaco’s enduring importance as Formula 1 enters a new regulatory era.
FIA President, H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said: “The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the great jewels of world motorsport. It represents heritage, excellence, precision and passion, and continues to capture the imagination of fans across the world.
“As the Championship enters an important new chapter in 2026, Monaco provides a powerful reminder of what makes this sport so special: world-class drivers, cutting-edge engineering, committed teams, and the extraordinary work of officials, volunteers and organisers who make racing possible.”
Sharing his appreciation for the many people involved in making such an iconic event possible, Ben Sulayem said:“Every race weekend depends on the dedication of FIA officials, local organisers, volunteers, marshals, teams and partners. Monaco is one of the most complex events in world motorsport to deliver, and I want to thank everyone whose professionalism and commitment ensures it remains a benchmark for excellence.”
As The FIA Formula One World Championship continues to grow globally, the FIA remains focused on strengthening its long-term, ensuring world-class competition, advancing safety and sustainability, and supporting the continued development of motorsport at every level.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:
- Geri Sherwin, Director of Communications (Presidential and Automotive Mobility): gsherwin@fia.com
- Joe Kidd, Presidential Communications Officer: jkidd@fia.com
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility.
Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 245 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including six FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all.
Monaco Grand PrixF1FIA1FIAF1Monaco Grand Prix00Friday, June 5, 2026 - 9:45amFriday, June 5, 2026 - 9:45am
Botswana Launches Grassroots Karting Academy to Boost Participation

Members news
Botswana Motorsport, in collaboration with WORR Motorsport, has launched the Karting Africa Academy during an interactive session in Lobatse, Botswana last month. The milestone event attracted 40 participants, many of whom received their first taste of motor sport.
The event also showcased the new Karting Africa Academy kart chassis, purpose built for the Academy programme by WORR Motorsport to boost participation in entry level motor sport across Africa. Botswana Motorsport was honoured to become the first national sporting authority (ASN) in Africa to officially launch and introduce the chassis.
To deliver the event, Botswana Motorsport partnered with its affiliate, Cyro Motorsport Group, Chariots of Fire Racing Club and karting company The Freak Show Racing to ensure a smooth and engaging experience for participants and spectators alike.
The launch was attended by several distinguished guests including representatives from the Botswana National Sport Commission, the Mayor of Lobatse, the District Commissioner, the Member of Parliament for the constituency, and representatives of the Botswana Police Service. Their presence reflects the broad political and civic support for the development of motor sport in Botswana.
The Karting Africa Academy represents a significant step forward in grassroots motor sport, creating a structured pathway for young drivers to access competitive karting and build towards future opportunities within the sport.
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said:
“The launch of the Karting Africa Academy in Botswana is an important milestone for grassroots motorsport across the continent. By creating accessible and structured pathways into the sport, we are giving more young people the opportunity to discover motorsport, develop their skills and pursue their ambitions. Thanks to all those involved in bringing this initiative to life, programmes like this are vital to growing participation, nurturing future talent and ensuring that motorsport remains open and accessible to the next generation.”
Tumisang Kagiso Modibedi, President of Botswana Motorsport, said:
“This launch marks a defining moment for motorsport in Botswana. Seeing 40 young participants, some as young as six years step onto a karting circuit for the first time is exactly the kind of future we are building towards. We are proud to have made history as the first ASN on the continent to introduce the Karting Africa Academy chassis.”
Members F1 Members1MembersF1Members00Thursday, June 4, 2026 - 11:48amThursday, June 4, 2026 - 11:48am
Evans leads Ogier into Rally Japan finale as Solberg challenge ends

Sport news
Evans started the longest leg of the event with a 15.7sec advantage over Solberg, who increased the pressure across Saturday morning and reduced the gap to 10.6sec by midday. However, Solberg’s challenge came to an end on the afternoon’s opening Mt. Kasagi stage when he slid wide at a left-hand corner and struck a tree with the right-rear of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
That promoted Sébastien Ogier to second overall, with Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta completing a Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT top four after 120.22 competitive kilometres on Saturday.
Evans lost time passing Solberg’s stricken car on SS10, but remained in control through a demanding afternoon loop as rising temperatures and tyre wear added to the challenge. He responded on the second pass of Ena by going 3.1sec faster than Ogier, before adding another stage win on Obara to extend his advantage to 20.0sec. Two runs through the Fujioka super special reduced that margin slightly before the overnight halt.
“No way [is it under control],” said Evans after Ena. “There is far too much driving to do. It can always be better clearly.”
The Welshman’s day was not without its own moment of concern. On the final stage, he ran wide at a left-hand corner and came close to the Armco, but escaped without damage.
“There was not a lot of room to spare there,” he added. “Obviously we need to carry on the same way, that’s all. Big day tomorrow.”
Solberg had been one of the standout performers of the morning loop. He won Obara, lost ground to Evans on Ena, then hit back on Mt. Kasagi to bring the gap down to 10.6sec before his rally unravelled on the repeat pass.
Ogier, meanwhile, admitted he had been unable to find the pace required to challenge Evans consistently, despite moving into second following Solberg’s retirement.
“It’s not what we were hoping,” said the nine-time world champion. “We came here to fight for the win and we’re not fighting. We had a similar rally to Elfyn, except for that one stage [Isegami’s Tunnel 1 on Friday]. It was tough and after that I never had the pace to fight back.”
Pajari strengthened his grip on third with an impressive afternoon performance. The Finn won both passes of the Fujioka super special and was fastest on Ena 2, ending the day 44.4sec behind Evans and 26.9sec clear of Katsuta.
“I’m very pleased with the afternoon loop in general,” Pajari said. “I was hoping to find more pace and that’s exactly what we did. Taking a couple of stage wins, from that side it’s really okay.”
Katsuta also enjoyed a stronger Saturday after a frustrating opening day. The Japanese driver moved ahead of Thierry Neuville during the morning and continued to close on Pajari during the afternoon, although he acknowledged that a podium push would require additional risk.
“I’m the same person, the same car,” Katsuta said. “Just a reset - that’s all.”
Adrien Fourmaux ended Saturday fifth overall as the leading Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team driver, 2min 05.2sec from the lead. Team-mate Neuville slipped to sixth after struggling with car balance and an intermittent handbrake issue throughout the day.
“Despite it being a difficult day we had some fun, pushing hard,” Neuville said. “We never found anything to make it work. Struggling with the feeling, feedback and balance.”
Hayden Paddon completed the day seventh in the third Hyundai, ahead of M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Jon Armstrong, who reported improved confidence as the leg progressed. Nikolay Gryazin holds ninth overall and leads WRC2 by 5.7sec from Alejandro Cachón after another close fight between the pair.
Sunday’s final leg features six stages, including two runs through Nukata and Lake Mikawako, with the second pass of Lake Mikawako forming the rally-ending Wolf Power Stage.
World Rally Championship
WRC Rally Japan WRC SEASON 2026 Sport Rallies1SportWorld Rally ChampionshipRalliesWRCSEASON 2026WRCRally Japan00Saturday, May 30, 2026 - 3:33pmSaturday, May 30, 2026 - 3:33pm
Evans leads Toyota top-four lockout after Friday in Japan

Sport news
Elfyn Evans ended a challenging opening day of FORUM8 Rally Japan at the head of the field, as Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT occupied the top four positions after six special stages on Friday.
The FIA World Rally Championship leader made the most of his road position and delivered a measured performance across Aichi’s technical asphalt stages to build a 15.7-second lead over team-mate Oliver Solberg. Defending Rally Japan winner Sébastien Ogier completed the provisional podium, just 1.4 seconds further back, with Sami Pajari fourth overall.
Evans was fourth-fastest on the brand-new Asuke opener, where overnight rain left damp sections beneath the trees and made tyre choice immediately difficult. His rally moved into gear on the first pass of Isegami’s Tunnel, where he set a decisive benchmark time 7.5 seconds faster than anyone else to take the lead.
From that point, the Welshman kept the rally under control. He added a further stage win on the morning pass of Inabu / Shitara, before managing his advantage through the afternoon repeat loop as conditions became drier but remained inconsistent in places. Because naturally, Japan’s asphalt decided “dry” and “predictable” were concepts best left to circuit racing.
“Road position. It is always road position,” Evans said after the final stage. “It has been an okay day for us overall. It has been relatively clean and we managed to keep a good rhythm, so other than that it has been okay.”
Solberg made the perfect start by winning the opening Asuke stage and repeated that success on the afternoon pass. However, the young Swede lost time on SS3 after slowing to avoid a deer on the road, before surviving a late moment on the final stage to reach the overnight halt second overall.
“It was a horrible stage,” Solberg said at the end of SS6. “I had way too many small mistakes. That was probably the worst stage today. I was a bit surprised by the time. I’m very disappointed. I’m a bit sad today. Instead of being 16sec behind, it could have been 10sec, but that’s life.”
Ogier, winner of FORUM8 Rally Japan last season, spent much of Friday searching for a stronger feeling from his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. The nine-time world champion was frustrated after losing 16.7 seconds to Evans on the morning pass of Isegami’s Tunnel, but kept Solberg under pressure throughout the afternoon to end the leg 17.1 seconds off the lead.
“Not ideal for sure,” Ogier said. “We were hoping for better. We did what we could. We still have to work to find the sweet spot in the car. I was fighting it all day.”
Pajari was fifth at midday but moved ahead of Thierry Neuville during the afternoon and signed off his Friday with the fastest time on SS6, Inabu / Shitara. The Finn ended the day 41.5 seconds from the lead, 24.4 seconds behind Ogier and 16.7 seconds clear of Neuville.
Neuville finished Friday as the leading Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team driver in fifth overall, 58.2 seconds behind Evans. The Belgian showed competitive speed in damp and greasy conditions but struggled for balance as the roads dried and he switched to the hard-compound Hankook tyre.
“Once we are on the hard tyre the balance is gone,” Neuville said. “It is the same story with this car. This car is not meant to go fast in these conditions.”
Home hero Takamoto Katsuta endured a difficult start to the event he most wants to win. The Japanese driver clipped a bank on a damp right-hander in the opening stage and picked up a left-rear puncture, then struggled for confidence through the remainder of the morning. He completed Friday sixth overall, 1min 03.8sec from the lead.
“It was one of the worst days I have had,” Katsuta said. “It is very bad and it was very frustrating. There are still two days to go.”
Adrien Fourmaux holds seventh after a challenging day in the second Hyundai. The Frenchman spun at a hairpin on the morning pass of Isegami’s Tunnel and was unable to find the balance he wanted, while team-mate Hayden Paddon completed his first day on the asphalt version of FORUM8 Rally Japan in eighth.
Jon Armstrong sits ninth for M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, despite grazing a barrier on the afternoon Asuke stage and later dealing with an intercom issue. Team-mate Josh McErlean lost more than two and a half minutes after stopping to change a front-right puncture on SS5 and lies 12th overnight.
Alejandro Cachón completes the top 10 overall and leads WRC2 by 8.3 seconds from Nikolay Gryazin following a close day-long fight between the pair. Gryazin moved back into the category lead on the second pass of Isegami’s Tunnel, but Cachón responded on the final stage to regain the advantage heading into Saturday.
Saturday brings the longest leg of FORUM8 Rally Japan, with two passes of Obara, Ena and Mt. Kasagi making up 120.22 competitive kilometres.
World Rally Championship
WRC Rally Japan WRC SEASON 2026 Sport Rallies1SportWorld Rally ChampionshipRalliesWRCSEASON 2026WRCRally Japan00Friday, May 29, 2026 - 4:31pmFriday, May 29, 2026 - 4:31pm
Successful 4-Stroke Karting Championship in Brazil Strengthens Participation in South America

Members news
The second edition of the South American 4-Stroke Karting Championship has reaffirmed the continent's standing as a hotbed for emerging motor sport talent, with more than 140 drivers from six nations competing at the Techspeed International Circuit in Nova Santa Rita, Brazil over 21-24 May 2026.
Organised by the FIA Member Club in Brazil, Confederação Brasileira de Automobilismo (CBA), the championship is at the heart of a broader motor sport development strategy in South America to increase the number of accessible pathways into the sport and raise racing and technical standards across the region. The event directly supports the FIA's mission to double motor sport participation worldwide.
The second edition marked a notable step forward from the first edition held last year with great cooperation across the region, including technical commissions from multiple neighbouring federations working in collaboration. The focus remains on building accessible, high-level competition that gives young drivers the tools and infrastructure to progress onto the international stage.
Fabiana Ecclestone, FIA Vice-President for Sport in South America, said: "The success of this second edition in Brazil highlights the immense potential of karting as the primary gateway into motor sport. We are working intensely to strengthen grassroots categories to foster new talent and create a solid, inclusive technical foundation, ensuring that young drivers in our region have all the necessary tools to thrive on the global stage."
Giovanni Guerra, CBA President, said: "This championship is not only a personal dream, but a vision shared alongside the FIA to develop motor sport across the continent. Seeing drivers from six nations competing at such a high level, while our technical commissions work seamlessly together, demonstrates that the South American Championship has become a consolidated, world-class event."
Members FIA Members1MembersFIAMembers00Friday, May 29, 2026 - 1:08pmFriday, May 29, 2026 - 1:08pm