The Bahamas can now boast its first-ever top level representative on the organization that is to motorsports what the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to athletics. Bahamas Speed Week Revival chairman David Mclaughlin has been named a director of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body for major auto racing events around the world.
TOP JOB – At the height of his long and impressive career in international motor sports, Bahamas Speed Week Revival chairman David McLaughlin has been appointed the Bahamas and Caribbean Task Force Director of the prestigious Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (International Automobile Federation), headquartered in Paris, France. It is the first time The Bahamas has been represented on the FIA, the regulatory body that is to motor sports what the IOC is to the Olympics.
“This is indeed an honour,” said McLaughlin. “The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is the world governing body of motorsports and runs the major events in Europe, America, Asia and Australia.
“Over the past 60 years the FIA has been at the heart of virtually every seminal development across the global motor sports industry. I could not be more proud to accept this privilege and look forward to doing all I can to help craft a bright and innovative future for the industry that I love.”
In 1946, the FIA standardised auto racing rules for the first time, a move that is credited with giving birth to Formula One. Then in 1950, the body organised the first Drivers World Championship.
The FIA also created the World Sportscar Championship in 1953, the first points series for sports car racing in the world.
In 1973, the FIA organised the first World Rally Championship, with the 42nd Auto Rally of Monte-Carlo becoming the first ever FIA World Rally Championship event.
In 1987, the body sanctioned the first World Touring Car Championship. Initially a one-off series, the title was revived in 2005. In 1993, the National Hot Rod Association was officially recognised by the FIA World Motorsports Council and the FIA Drag Racing Commission was formed that same year.
Following several rocky decades for global auto racing, in which several competitions folded, the FIA helped lead the way back to prominence in 2012, organising the rebirth of the World Sportscar Championship, known as the FIA WEC from 2012 onwards.
McLaughlin has had a long and storied involvement with auto racing spanning more than three decades. An enthusiastic driver, owner and collector, he brought his experience as a graduate engineer and successful international commodity broker and businessman to the field of motor sport event management in 1980 and soon became a leader in the field.
He owned and raced such iconic cars as the Lotus 72, McLaren M23, Williams FW07, Lola T70 and many others, winning some races and enjoying Historic Motor Sport at the top level. Through his company FORCE he established the historic Formula 1 Series in 1986 which became the Official Historic Formula 1 World Championship recognized by the FIA.
McLaughlin also created the FORCE Classic Grand Prix Series with rounds in nine European countries.
In 2011, McLaughlin took a central role in the re-launch of the iconic Bahamas Speed Week which graced the streets of the Bahamian capital in the 1950s and 60s. As chairman and event director, he has guided Bahamas Speed Week Revival as it grew from strength to strength, reestablishing itself as a centerpiece of the Nassau event calendar.
“History is somewhat repeating itself as the original Speed Weeks were held under the auspices of the FIA,” said McLaughlin. “To return real international racing to The Bahamas I had to obtain affiliation once again to the World Governing Body so we are now ready to go for the next Speed Week Revival.”
