Nazir Hoosein

Background

Hoosein's entry into motorsport administration was driven by dissatisfaction. He founded the Indian Automotive Racing Club because he was unhappy with the way motorsport was organised in India, and then helped form the Federation of Motor Sport Clubs of India (FMSCI), becoming its President in 1984. In 1988, he organised the Great Desert-Himalaya Rally, which ran from the Thar Desert of Rajasthan through the Shivalik hills, Himachal and Ladakh, ending in Srinagar. Hoosein was an ally of FIA President Max Mosley and assisted Mosley in gaining votes from Asian FIA members throughout the 1990s.

In 1998, following the British Grand Prix where he was one of three race stewards involved in the controversial manner in which Schumacher won the race, Hoosein voluntarily surrendered his license to the FIA World Council, admitting that he and the other stewards were at fault for the mishandling of the situation. He regained the license after one year. At the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix he was again subject to criticism.

Did You Know?

• After the FMSCI dropped him as their FIA representative in 1999, Hoosein formed the Motorsports Association of India in opposition.
• In 2000, a deal allowed Hoosein to represent the People's Republic of China on the World Motor Sport Council after India's government refused to recognise his MAI.