05 06 P Crowning motor PP As sales falls, 38 sport’s 2017 5050 is diesel running champions on empty? / From the world’s great // AUTO explores the COVER circuits to the Palace of FUELLINGFUELLING declining demand for STORY Versailles, AUTO reviews FALLOUTFALLOUT diesel power and why car a year of competition buyers might be mistaken 06 06 PP ‘Season Four PP ‘Automation must be 4646 might be our 5656 ubiquitous. This is closest one yet’ about societal benefit’ // Formula E boss Alejandro // Li Shufu, boss of Chinese issue ALEJANDROALEJANDRO Agag on why ‘peaking GEELY‘SGEELY‘S automotive powerhouse #21 AGAG AGAG technology’ will lead to LILI SHUFUSHUFU Geely, on motoring’s next international journal of the fia a tighter title fight great leap forward FIA PRIZE GIVING – VERSAILLES – DECEMBER 2017 FIAAutoMagazine_DPS_10_17.indd 1 16.10.17 10:46 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE FIA Editorial Board: Jean Todt, Gerard Saillant, THE FIA THE FIA FOUNDATION THE GLOBAL INSTITUTE Dear reader, Saul Billingsley, Olivier Fisch Editor-In-Chief: Luca Colajanni The end-of-year edition of AUTO is always special because its Executive Editor: Justin Hynes The Fédération Internationale de The FIA Foundation is an The Global Institute for Motor Contributing Editor: Marc Cutler l’Automobile is the governing body independent UK-registered charity Sport Safety is an international publication coincides with the period in which the FIA holds its Chief Sub-Editor: Gillian Rodgers Art Director: Cara Furman of world motor sport and the that supports an international organisation based in Switzerland Annual General Assembly and its Prize Giving ceremony, Contributors: Pino Allievi, Ben Barry, Gaia Pelliccioli, federation of the world’s leading programme of activities promoting that undertakes research to Declan Quigley, Damien Smith, Sam Smith, Kate Turner, motoring organisations. Founded road safety, the environment and improve motor sport safety Matt Youson where all the FIA champions receive their awards and, as you can Repro Manager: Adam Carbajal in 1904, it brings together 236 sustainable mobility. It was worldwide. As the safety research see, this is the occasion referenced on the cover of the magazine. Printing: Golinelli Communications Lab national motoring and sporting established in 2001 with a donation partner of the FIA, it conducts We would like to thank the following for their help with this issue of AUTO: Sarah Le Port, Martyn Pass, organisations from more than of $300 million from the FIA practical research at all levels of This time, its appearance is even more propitious as it coincides Avi Silverman, Kate Turner, Tom Wood 135 countries, representing millions and is governed by a Board of motor sport, from professional Advertising: Stephane Fillastre with the end of a four-year period of governance and the time to [email protected] of motorists worldwide. In motor Trustees. Among its activities, categories to grassroots racing. sport, it administers the rules and the Foundation participates It aims to provide motor sport choose a President to lead our organisation for the next cycle. I am Design Origination: seidldesign, Stuttgart regulations for all international in various UN road safety and with the means to operate as safely honoured and proud that this great family of ours has chosen me to four-wheel sport, including the FIA environment-related partnerships as possible, and to use safety Formula One World Championship and is a member of the UN Global research for the benefit of public serve a third consecutive term. I want to once again thank all the and FIA World Rally Championship. Road Safety Collaboration. roads and society in general. members of the FIA’s Member Clubs for their support. I see this as a validation of the direction the FIA has taken under my leadership, and as encouragement to continue the programme we have pursued over the past eight years. AUTO’s series of in-depth interviews with major players in the automotive world continues in this issue as we talk to two people who have taken their company to the very top of this industry: Li Shufu has turned Geely into the symbol of the Chinese auto industry, while Alberto Bombassei has placed Italian brake company Brembo at the technological cutting edge in motor sport and in the world of road cars. Over the past two years, diesel power has been a very tricky topic, causing confusion and concern among motorists. But what exactly is the future of a technology that, for 20 years, had grown so relentlessly? AUTO asks several experts in the field to clear up one of motoring’s biggest debates. The past and the future are woven together through the pages of this magazine. You can read an interview with Alejandro Agag, the promotor of the FIA Formula E Championship, and with talented young racing driver Lando Norris, while also finding a retrospective look at one of the legends of rallying, Walter Röhrl. There is also a feature on one of the most storied race tracks in the USA, namely Sebring. As for the section dedicated to our clubs, this time we look at Norway. There’s plenty more besides. I hope you like it and, as usual, if you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can improve the magazine, we would love to hear from you. Enjoy the read and happy 2018! facebook.com/fia twitter.com/fia Legal: © 2017 FIA. All rights reserved. Except to the extent permitted under applicable copyright laws, no JEAN TODT, instagram.com/fia.official part of the information found in this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, FIA President or stored in a data base or retrieval system, without the youtube.com/fiaofficialvideo prior written permission of the FIA. AUTO #21 P10 P11 Q4 / 2017 From celebrating the FIA’s 01 P12—17 02 P30—31 04 P34—37 05 P38—44 contents champions, to the future for UP Gallery AUTO The Big TECH Safety COVER The FIA’s diesel cars, to the legend of the FRONT ASKS REPORT STORY Jean Todt re-elected Question squad champions Sebring 12 Hours, this is AUTO as FIA President; the Mercedes supercar with AUTO asks what How a range of experts AUTO reflects with F1 tech; the sun sets on the future holds for from motor sport and this year‘s world Porsche’s time in the WEC LMP racing in the beyond have achieved championship winners World Endurance important advances and doffs it cap to Championship in driver safety the FIA‘s other 2017 P18—21 title holders Election Special 03 P32—33 FIA President Jean Todt DRIVING Lando states his aims for a FORCES final term in office Norris The teenage sensation discusses F3 European P23—27 title glory, F1 testing with McLaren and his 32 60 34 News prospects for F2 2018 Lamborghini plans electric future; campaign targets safer new cars in Africa; FIA president hails work at ADAC centre 06 P46—48 P66—67 07 P74—78 09 P92—93 AUTO Formula E’s Harnessing REAR Legend: AUTO A year to FOCUS VIEW GRAPH 80 power surge child safety Walter remember As its enters season four, How the FIA Foundation is Röhrl As motor sport’s major the FIA’s all-electric backing a global campaign seasons end, we look championship is going to reduce the number of child Germany’s only World back at some of the from strength to strength fatalities in road accidents Rally Champion reflects big numbers to come on a varied career in out of the FIA’s world some crazy cars championships P50—54 P68—71 P80—84 The future of Driven to diesel power distraction Sebring 10 P94 38 74 Diesel has received plenty of With modern cars becoming 12 Hours FINAL Goodbye negative publicity, but does increasingly connected, are The story behind LAP it have more power left? AUTO drivers having to deal with the classic American to F1’s investigates too much information? circuit that’s set to host a new WEC race nice guy Felipe Massa on his P56—58 P72—73 second retirement from Formula One his new role in karting China’s motor Michelle Yeoh, 08 P87—91 mastermind #3500Lives INSIDE Club How Geely’s Li Shufu rose The actress and campaigner THE FIA 87 from humble beginnings is lending her support World to automotive success in to the FIA’s global road Norway is at the China and beyond safety campaign forefront of electric mobility – backed by its motoring groups P60—64 Brembo’s racing passion The Italian brake company’s president Alberto Bombassei 72 50 on the reasons for its – and his – enduring success AUTO 01 UP AUTO DRIVING TECH COVER AUTO REAR INSIDE AUTO FINAL FIA ELECTIONS Jean Todt was re-elected President of the FIA on December 8 meetings. President Todt’s third term will see Graham Stoker #21 FRONT ASKS FORCES REPORT STORY FOCUS VIEW THE FIA GRAPH LAP P12 P13 Q4 Gallery The Big FIA European Motor sport’s The FIA’s The fourth is with Formula E Walter Röhrl Club World: Crunching the What next in Paris. Standing unopposed, he was returned for a third term retain his post as Deputy President for Sport. Former Deputy / News Question F3 champion safety squad sporting The future of diesel power Sebring Norway 2017 FIA World for Felipe A NEW 2017 Lando Norris champions Geely mastermind Li Shufu International Championship Massa unanimously and by acclamation. Mr Todt first took office in President for Mobility, Brian Gibbons, takes on a new role as Brembo’s Alberto Bombassei Raceway numbers 2009 and this final term will take him through to the end of President of the FIA Senate in place of Nick Craw, who steps Child car seat safety drive MANDATE Driven to distraction 2021.