P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The Charity Commission of England and Wales is addressing concerns relating to the FIA Foundation.
An investigation has been launched into the FIA Foundation, the charitable arm responsible for funding road safety research and motorsport safety initiatives. The Charity Commission has opened the inquiry due to concerns over governance and potential conflicts of interest between the Foundation and its parent organization, the FIA. The Foundation now operates under an immediate temporary protective order, preventing trustees from entering certain transactions without prior written approval from the Commission. The inquiry specifically examines whether conflicts of interest have been properly managed, particularly regarding grants awarded by the charity. While the Commission clarifies that opening an inquiry does not indicate wrongdoing, the protective order highlights serious concerns about the charity’s administration. The Foundation carries out valuable duties in motorsport safety research, funding programs contributing to advances in circuit design, car safety systems, and protective equipment used in racing categories. The investigation will focus on whether trustees have adhered to their legal duties concerning administration, governance, and management, notably after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem assumed the role of chair of the foundation last year, succeeding David Richards.
