MAI & FMSCI set to merge. Finally?

[GTO]

Or are they? I read numerous reports in the past week that the MAI and FMSCI are finally set to merge. In fact, Vijay Mallya was quoted as saying that it would happen "soon", while some insist that the merger is due by April 1st.

For all your motorsport experts out there:

1. Is this actually going to happen? The FIA had set deadlines prior to this too, but they were never adhered to.

2. What are the pro's and con's of such a merger?

3. How will the power be distributed, considering the egos that dominate Indian motorsport?

4. What happens to the racing events that are unique to each of these warring groups?

[Zappo]

Vijay Mallya is apparently putting in a lot of efforts to bring these two factions together. Interestingly Vijay heads both these factions, apparently. I do not know how that was made possible.

I see a lot of pros of such a happening. Cons though can only come from the negative approach to things that people take. It may bring one powerful guy to have all the veto power and no one to check/reign him in. That could mean trouble for motosports in this country.

Are there any clashing calender events? Those may need to be restructured. Otherwise I guess they will run most of the popular ones.

[khan_sultan]

On the negative note, an incompetent & egotistic person could possibly do to motor sports what KPS Gill has been able to do for the Indian hockey.

From an idealist state, a single body is good but in reality having 2 bodies does help..

[Cyrus43]

The two bodies are indeed merging and they have recieved a deadline of 1st April by the FIA.

[madan80]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

On the negative note, an incompetent & egotistic person could possibly do to motor sports what KPS Gill has been able to do for the Indian hockey.

question is do we have facts to prove this?

That apart - i think its a great initiative. They must make this body the parent body, and subsequent subbodies- one for car racing, one for rallying and one for other motorsports events- thses should include auto-crosses, non INRC rallies etc.
this way - there is no fight for sponsorship and motorsports as a whole can improve.

[varun_patra]

What i had read was that incase both FMSCI and MAI dont merge , a new ASN will be created to head motorsports in India . They were given a dead line last year too , but they dint merge . But now with Vijay Mallya getting into Formula 1 i think its high time they do .

[GTO]

, a new ASN will be created to head motorsports in India .

Sigh....a third contender? I hope not. These two are enough already.

That apart - i think its a great initiative. They must make this body the parent body, and subsequent subbodies- one for car racing, one for rallying and one for other motorsports events- thses should include auto-crosses, non INRC rallies etc.

Great suggestion, madan. A general approach has its limitations, best to segregate and specialise.

[Cyrus43]

This is what is going to happen.
The FMSCI will acquire a new identity as the INDIAN MOTOR SPORTS FEDERATION (IMSF) and the MAI will merge into it. A new set of statues will be drawn up. Once the new body comes up, the powers of the ASN which now rests with the MAI will be transfered to the IMSF.

So basically they are taking away all powers of the MAI.

[MaserQ]

Mallya & Co. have done a commendable job so far to bring these warring factions together. If the reports are true then the MAI would be dissolved. There would be the initial power sharing issues, but this move would be in the best interests of the future of Indian motorsport.

[varun_patra]

Originally Posted by GTA

This is what is going to happen.
The FMSCI will acquire a new identity as the INDIAN MOTOR SPORTS FEDERATION (IMSF) and the MAI will merge into it. A new set of statues will be drawn up. Once the new body comes up, the powers of the ASN which now rests with the MAI will be transfered to the IMSF.

So basically they are taking away all powers of the MAI.

Jk and fmsci are known to have grand events but MRF and MAI have always been professional in their events .

[mail4ajo]

I strongly feel that these factions should merge because the events have started to get very localised. I assume we do not see much MAI activity except the karting in Chennai since FMSCI operates here. Or maybe its due to availability of venue.

But very surprisingly, I see an MAI event scheduled in Chennai in Dec 2008. This may be a sign of changing times.

[Cyrus43]

Originally Posted by varun_patra

Jk and fmsci are known to have grand events but MRF and MAI have always been professional in their events .

So what? Are you saying that the whole difference is because of competitive tyre brands?

[racingmachine]

Originally Posted by GTO

Sigh....a third contender? I hope not. These two are enough already.

Actually it's a little different situation AFAIK.

Let's put it this way.
In it's current situation, the tree looks like this--
FIA--->ASN--->MAI
whereas FMSCI was a separate body not recognized by FIA, whereas MAI was.

Now coming to the present situation which *might* come into existence in near future(?) is something like this(i think)----

FMSCI will acquire a new identity as "Indian Motor Sports Association."
and the powers of current National Sporting Association (ASN), which at present rests with MAI, will be transferred to IMSF.

[Cyrus43]

Originally Posted by racingmachine

Actually it's a little different situation AFAIK.

Let's put it this way.
In it's current situation, the tree looks like this--
FIA--->ASN--->MAI
whereas FMSCI was a separate body not recognized by FIA, whereas MAI was.

Now coming to the present situation which *might* come into existence in near future(?) is something like this(i think)----

FMSCI will acquire a new identity as "Indian Motor Sports Association."
and the powers of current National Sporting Association (ASN), which at present rests with MAI, will be transferred to IMSF.

That is exactly what i said isnt it?
But doesnt it indicate that MAI will be left with nothing?

[racingmachine]

We need only 1 body to govern motorsports in India. MAI and FMSCI will merge together and will be called IMSF. No question of whether the power is there with MAI or not, because now, instead of MAI, IMSF will follow the rules and regulations of FIA, IF the merger happens that is.