Jean-Marie Balestre

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Jean-Marie Balestre
Jean-Marie Balestre as FIA President
President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
In office
1985 – 23 October 1993
Preceded byPaul Alfons von Metternich-Winneburg
Succeeded byMax Mosley
President of the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile
In office
1978–1991
Preceded byPierre Ugeux
Succeeded byMax Mosley
Personal details
Born(1921-04-09)9 April 1921
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
Died27 March 2008(2008-03-27) (aged 86)
Saint-Cloud, Paris, France

Jean-Marie Balestre (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ maʁi balɛstʁ]; 9 April 1921 – 27 March 2008) was a French auto racing administrator, who became President of the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) from 1978 to 1991 and President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) from 1985 to 1993.

Early life

Balestre was born at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône. He studied law in Paris, and afterwards worked as a journalist on a number of publications.[1]

World War II

Details of Balestre's activities during World War II are unknown. He was a member of the French Nazi division of the

SS, but later claimed to have been an undercover agent for the French Resistance,[1][2][3] and received the Legion of Honour
for services to France in 1968.

Career

After the war, he worked as a journalist for

International Karting Commission of the FIA. He was elected president of the FFSA in 1973 and president of the FIA's International Sporting Commission in 1978. He was instrumental in transforming the International Sporting Commission into the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) in 1978 winning the election by 29 votes to 11 over Tom Binford
.

In the late 1970s, photographs began to circulate of Balestre wearing a German SS uniform, and he took unsuccessful legal action to suppress their publication.[1][2]

Balestre was heavily involved in what is colloquially called the FISA–FOCA war, a political battle over finances and control of the Formula One World Championships between 1980 and 1982. Balestre and his opponent, Bernie Ecclestone, settled the dispute after Enzo Ferrari brokered a compromise. Balestre signed the first Concorde Agreement, under which FOCA was granted the commercial rights to Formula One while the FIA retained control of all sporting and technical regulations.[4]

In 1986, a few hours after the death of Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto in a crash, Balestre announced the unilateral decision of FISA to ban Group B rallying in favour of the slower, less technically advanced Group A. Despite this decision, WRC driver fatalities peaked in 1989.

Balestre is credited with establishing specific crash test requirements for Formula One cars, significantly improving the safety of the sport. He was also a key proponent of the switch to naturally aspirated engines in 1989, also arguing that such a move was essential for safety reasons.

Balestre has also been accused by some press of using his power for more than it was intended. In 1989 Autosport magazine. allegations that were never substantiated This ultimately led to Max Mosley's decision to run for the FISA presidency.[5] Senna fell out with Balestre who threatened to revoke his super license but was included on the 1990 entry list.[6] However, when Senna deliberately collided with Prost in 1990 at the same circuit, Balestre did not intervene or sanction the Brazilian.

Balestre was elected as president of the FIA, while remaining president of FISA, in 1986. He was replaced as president of FISA in 1991 when he lost the election to Max Mosley in October by a vote of 43 to 29. Facing certain defeat in the re-election to the FIA presidency in October 1993, Balestre elected to stand down, and proposed that FISA be abolished and Mosley replace him as president of the FIA. Balestre maintained the presidency of the FFSA until the end of 1996.

Death

Balestre died on 27 March 2008, aged 86.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Henry, Alan (31 March 2008). "Obituary: Jean-Marie Balestre". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b Saward, Joe (28 March 2008). "Jean-Marie Balestre". GrandPrix.com. Inside F1. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ "Jean-Marie Balestre passes away". formula1.com. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
  5. ^ "Jean Marie Balestre, 1921-2008". Speed. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
  6. ^ "Former FIA president Balestre dies aged 86". Reuters. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
  7. ^ Balestre est décédé Archived 2011-08-26 at the Wayback Machine, L'Équipe. (in French)
  8. ^ "autosport.com - F1 News: Balestre passes away aged 86". Autosport.
Sporting positions
Preceded by President of the
Fédération Française du Sport Automobile

1972–1996
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA)
1978–1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
1985–1993
Succeeded by