All hands on deck for successful FIA Sport Conference 2018

FIA Sport Conference 2018 partners with AAP with the support of SMC, Petron, and BMW

Ten government offices and agencies are joining hands with the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) to ensure the success of the FIA Sport Conference 2018 to be held in Pasay City June 04-06. The AAP, with the backing of the Department of Tourism, won the international bid in 2017 to host the FIA Sport Conference 2018.

The FIA Sport Conference (FIA SC) is held every year by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the Paris-based governing body of all four-wheel motor sport worldwide including Formula One, the World Rally Championship and 24 Hours at Le Mans. Over 300 delegates representing 245 FIA member organizations in 143 countries are expected to attend the FIA SC 2018, the theme of which is “Empowering the Future: Unlocking Motor Sport’s Potential.”

The AAP is the only FIA member organization in the Philippines and has the rank of both National Sporting Authority (NSA) and mobility club.

In his letter to FIA member clubs, FIA president Jean Todt said that the FIA SC 2018 will focus on creating a motor sport culture in new markets, attracting an increasingly busy young audience in a fast-changing world, and involving the next generation in the future of motor sport, both as fans and participants. The Conference, Todt said, will examine subjects that affect the FIA’s national sporting authorities (NSAs) and mobility clubs, motor sport promoters, sponsors and drivers worldwide.

The FIA SC 2018 includes the FIA Sport MotorEx, an industry-themed showcase and platform for the analysis of future trends and opportunities in motor sport. The MotorEx will feature key decision makers, event promoters and leading figures from racing and rallying.

On June 05 and 06, drifting, cross car racing, eKarting and auto gymkhana demonstrations will be held at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City. Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, who retired from Formula One racing only last year, will benchmark an official time that young local karters will try to beat.

The AAP’s partners in hosting the Conference are the Department of Tourism, Petron Corporation as official energy partner, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. as official vehicle partner, SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation (BMW Philippines), Philippine Airlines and San Miguel Corporation as major sponsors. Both BMW and Hyundai will provide chauffered motor vehicles for the use of Conference delegates. The FIA SC 2018 will be preceded by the FIA Asia-Pacific Regional Sport Congress and the AAP Through the Years Parade on Sunday, June 03.

A powerhouse ensemble of motoring personalities are from left, Ana Neri Petron AVP for Marketing, Maricar Parco BMW Philippines President, Augusto Lagman Automobile Association of the Philippines President, Dr. Mina Gabor AAP Director for Tourism, and Spencer Yu BMW Philippines Special Assistant to the Chairman, during the FIA Sport Conference 2018 contract signing on May 3, 2018 at the Diamond Hotel Manila

The AAP Through the Years Parade will trace the 87-year history of the country’s largest and oldest motoring club by parading the best-selling cars during cluster decades 1930s and 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, beginning and ending with a tableau. AAP president Gus Lagman will lead the parade by driving his vintage sports car, a 1996 Mazda Miata MX-5.

This is the first time that the FIA SC will be held in Asia, the first five having been held in the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Italy and Switzerland. AAP board member Mina T. Gabor, who as AAP tourism and travel chair heads the Conference’s National Organizing Council private sector together with AAP board member/ motor sport chair Mandy Eduque, said that the FIA SC will put the Philippines on the map as an attractive new international conference, business, and tourism destination. Aside from the Conference meetings presided over by the FIA, the AAP has organized a program for the delegates’ spouses showcasing the heritage, culture, cuisine and scenic beauty of the Philippines.

Determined to put the country’s best foot forward, the DOT, Department of Foreign Affairs Bureau of Immigration, Department of Finance Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police, Highway Patrol Group, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Manila International Airports Authority, International Press Center and the Office of Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto are helping the AAP with the preparations for the FIA Sport Conference 2018.