SINGHANIA NOMINATED FOR MALLYA’S SEAT

The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India has nominated industrialist Gautam Singhania for the election of the FIA titular post in the World Motor Sports Council. The post was previously held by the flamboyant Vijay Mallya before the sports ministry asked the FMSCI to withdraw the nomination of the beleaguered liquor baron. A racing enthusiast, Singhania has competed in the Ferrari Challenge, but hasn’t served the sport in any official capacity. The decision to nominate Singhania has, however, not gone down well in the motorsport fraternity. An official alleged that Singhania was not “associated with Indian motorsport in any capacity” and his name was recommended by a “sponsor”. “Has the FMSCI decided to abide by the diktat of a sponsor? The FMSCI, in its wisdom, has chosen to send the nomination of a candidate who has not been connected with the FIA or the FMSCI in any capacity to be nominated to represent India. It’s based on personal preferences and not on merit,” he added. The official said the federation didn’t follow due process. “There was no communication from the FMSCI to the member clubs calling for nominations even though the president had received the communication from the FIA in early September,” he added. The FMSCI could have nominated two names for the post, but chose to go with Singhania alone, ignoring the nomination by the Madras Motor Sports Club, a founder member, of its vice-president Vicky Chandhok. “In the first advisory, the president had wrongly stated that only one nomination from each federation could be sent, but FIA clarified that two names can be nominated. There is no nomination in writing from any candidate or member club other than the one from the MMSC,” the official added. Akbar Ebrahim, president of FMSCI, has nominated himself for the post of deputy titular.