Argomenti trattati
The FIA, the global governing body for motor sport and a federation of mobility organisations, visited Armenia to assess and celebrate the country’s recent advances in both motorsport and everyday mobility. The delegation met national officials and the Automobile Federation of Armenia (FAA) over several days to review collaborative projects. The aim: expand grassroots participation in motorsport and improve mobility for citizens.
The visit underscored a clear strategy: align policy support, technical programmes and practical, low-cost solutions to widen access to motorsport and safer transport. Armenian ministers and senior officials reaffirmed their commitment to these objectives. The FAA outlined on-the-ground initiatives that the FIA has supported.
Partnerships that lower barriers to entry
From an ESG perspective, partnerships can reduce costs and accelerate participation. The FIA and the FAA are focusing on modular, scalable programmes that lower financial and technical barriers for new drivers and clubs. Sustainability is a business case: simpler events, shared equipment and targeted training create more opportunities without large capital outlays.
Practical measures discussed include standardised safety training, community workshops and affordable vehicle preparation schemes. These interventions aim to broaden the talent pool and make motorsport pathways more inclusive. Leading companies have understood that investing in grassroots capacity yields long-term benefits for the sport and for road safety.
Dal punto di vista ESG, integrating mobility improvements with motorsport development can deliver dual gains: better everyday transport outcomes and a stronger pipeline of trained drivers and technicians. The delegation emphasised technical assistance and knowledge transfer as priorities for near-term implementation.
The delegation emphasised technical assistance and knowledge transfer as priorities for near-term implementation. This approach builds on an existing partnership between the central administration and the Automobile Federation of Armenia. It prioritises capacity building over capital-intensive investment. The aim is to scale grassroots participation while keeping costs manageable for organisers and competitors.
High-level support across government
Government ministries have framed motorsport development as part of broader transport and youth engagement strategies. Coordinated support reduces administrative barriers for events and for small-scale providers that fabricate vehicles. From an ESG perspective, aligning motorsport programmes with vocational training and local industry strengthens social and economic outcomes.
Sustainability is a business case: the FIA Affordable Cross Car model lowers entry costs and stimulates domestic supply chains. Local workshops gain steady demand for fabrication and maintenance work. That creates employment and preserves skills within regional economies.
Business case and economic opportunities
Lower-cost events widen the talent pool by welcoming drivers from outside major urban centres. Reduced financial barriers broaden audience engagement and sponsorship prospects. Event organisers can reallocate savings toward safety, officiating and youth development programmes.
From an ESG perspective, promoting local sourcing reduces scope 3 emissions tied to parts transport. It also enhances community buy-in, which improves event sustainability over time. Leading companies have understood that integrating social value strengthens long-term commercial returns.
How to implement in practice
Organisers can replicate the model through a few pragmatic steps. First, adopt standard technical blueprints to ensure safety and interchangeability of parts. Second, partner with vocational schools to provide hands-on training in vehicle fabrication and maintenance. Third, establish micro-grants or matched funding to cover initial tooling and safety equipment.
Technical assistance from federation experts should focus on licensing, scrutineering and race-day operations. Knowledge transfer programmes can include train-the-trainer modules to multiply local expertise. Monitoring and simple life-cycle assessments (LCA) will track environmental benefits and cost savings.
Examples of early adopters
Several regional clubs have already trialled entry-level cross events using locally built cars. These pilots reported lower entry fees and higher retention among junior drivers. Local garages reported a rise in steady work, and event organisers noted improved community attendance.
Such pilots offer replicable templates for organisers elsewhere. They also provide measurable indicators for sponsors and public funders to assess return on investment.
Roadmap for scaling up
Short-term priorities include standardising technical rules and expanding trainer networks. Medium-term steps focus on securing multi-year funding for youth programmes and infrastructure upgrades. Longer-term goals should target national championship pathways that link entry-level events to higher tiers, while maintaining affordability.
Government ministries have framed motorsport development as part of broader transport and youth engagement strategies. Coordinated support reduces administrative barriers for events and for small-scale providers that fabricate vehicles. From an ESG perspective, aligning motorsport programmes with vocational training and local industry strengthens social and economic outcomes.0
Government ministries have framed motorsport development as part of broader transport and youth engagement strategies. Coordinated support reduces administrative barriers for events and for small-scale providers that fabricate vehicles. From an ESG perspective, aligning motorsport programmes with vocational training and local industry strengthens social and economic outcomes.1
Expanding road safety collaboration
The FIA delegation held productive meetings across several ministries, signaling cross-government support for both sporting and mobility goals.
Delegates met with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport; the Ministry of Economy; the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure; and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry.
Officials described the work as multifaceted. They highlighted sporting programmes that develop talent, road-safety initiatives that protect citizens, and mobility policies that expand consumer choice. Road safety and mobility emerged as linked priorities for public welfare and economic opportunity.
The Armenian chief of staff to the prime minister emphasised the value of sustained partnership. He said ongoing collaboration can raise technical standards and deliver long-term benefits for the motor vehicle community.
From an ESG perspective, aligning motorsport programmes with vocational training and local industry strengthens social and economic outcomes. Sustainability is a business case that can create jobs, improve skills and attract investment.
The delegation proposed targeted technical assistance and knowledge transfer to accelerate implementation. Practical steps discussed included curriculum links between motorsport and technical schools, joint road-safety campaigns, and pilots to test policy reforms.
Leading companies have understood that coordinated public‑private action reduces risk and unlocks market opportunities. Examples cited during the programme pointed to scalable measures that can start locally and expand nationally.
The next stage will focus on translating agreements into pilot projects and measurable KPIs for safety, participation and industry development. The delegation recommended a phased roadmap to track progress and adapt interventions as needed.
The delegation recommended a phased roadmap to monitor progress and adapt interventions as needed. A key outcome was Armenia’s expressed intention to join the FIA’s Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life initiative. The programme supports capacity building and on-the-ground projects led by international experts to improve road safety.
Deputy Minister Kristine Ghalechyan accepted an invitation to participate in the scheme. Her engagement signals a commitment to develop practical interventions that reduce risk and promote safer travel for all road users. From an ESG perspective, the move links public policy with measurable safety outcomes and community impact.
Voices from the visit
FIA Secretary General for Sport, Valerio Iachizzi, praised the alignment between Armenia’s public institutions and the national federation. He called the model a source of inspiration for other countries. He noted that government support for grassroots motor sport can generate economic, social and employment benefits while building a sporting legacy.
Leading companies have understood that safety and participation reinforce each other in motorsport and mobility. Sustainability is a business case, and targeted interventions can deliver social value alongside sporting development. The FIA delegation recommended pilot projects, local training modules and a monitoring framework to demonstrate impact.
Practical next steps include establishing local capacity, conducting road risk assessments and piloting community-focused safety campaigns. Examples from other FIA partners show how phased implementation and transparent metrics drive results. The next reporting milestone will track pilot outcomes and inform wider rollout.
Practical commitments and next steps
Building on the planned reporting milestone, the Football Automobile Association (FAA) confirmed continued collaboration with the Armenian government and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). FAA President Arsen Manukyan welcomed the delegation and said programmes such as the Affordable Cross Car expand competitive opportunities across Armenia. FAA Vice President and FIA Region I COFO Vice Chair Aram Sargsyan highlighted the clarity of FIA support and the federation’s intent to convert momentum into concrete projects.
The FAA pledged to maintain a joint implementation track to monitor pilot performance and to share data that will inform a broader rollout. Private-sector involvement was identified as a key lever to finance and scale interventions. From an ESG perspective, the delegation signalled interest in aligning commercial partnerships with the FIA’s Road Safety and Driver Safety Indexes, combining policy leadership, federation expertise and corporate backing.
Sustainability is a business case, the statement added, noting that measurable safety gains can reduce social and economic costs while opening new market opportunities. The next milestone will report pilot outcomes and indicate whether the model is ready for wider adoption in Armenia and the region.
The FIA delegation met senior Armenian officials to align on event planning, tourism integration and mobility upgrades. Meetings included Minister Zhanna Andreasyan; Deputy Ministers Hasmik Avagyan and Gevorg Mantashyan; Deputy Minister Kristine Ghalechyan; Minister Gevorg Papoayn; and Lusine Gevorgyan, chairman of the Tourism Committee. The discussions identified concrete collaboration areas for motorsport events, tourism-linked initiatives and targeted mobility improvements.
Why it matters
These meetings translate planned commitments into operational priorities. They establish roles for government and FIA partners in event delivery, safety oversight and visitor promotion.
Sustainability is a business case: integrating motorsport with tourism can expand local revenues while lowering environmental impacts through coordinated transport and venue planning. From an ESG perspective, aligning events with tourism strategies creates measurable benefits for communities and investors.
Practical opportunities identified include coordinated scheduling to boost tourist stays, joint marketing to attract regional spectators, and infrastructure upgrades that improve access and safety for residents and visitors. Leading companies have understood that combining event management with destination planning multiplies economic returns.
Next steps focus on pilot implementation and data collection. The next milestone will report pilot outcomes and indicate whether the model is ready for wider adoption in Armenia and the region.
Scaling a replicable model for grassroots motorsport
The visit underscores a broader lesson: when federations, governments and communities act in concert, they can expand participation, improve road safety and unlock economic benefits. The Armenian approach pairs an accessible technical solution in the Affordable Cross Car with state endorsement and targeted safety programmes to create a model that other countries can adapt for grassroots motorsport and everyday mobility.
From an ESG perspective, integrating motorsport pathways with mobility upgrades reduces barriers to entry and generates local economic activity. Sustainability is a business case: investments that widen participation can also support tourism, skills development and small-business growth. Leading companies have understood that aligning sport, safety and local supply chains creates durable value for communities and stakeholders.
The FIA and Armenian partners signalled ongoing cooperation to stage events, support driver development and implement road-safety measures. The next milestone will report pilot outcomes and indicate whether the model is ready for wider adoption in Armenia and the region. If the pilot validates the approach, the expected legacy is straightforward: more accessible motorsport pathways, safer roads and strengthened local capability.