Insights from Miss Marina Dunach, FIA Category Manager
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the global governing body responsible for regulating and overseeing international motorsport competitions, including the prestigious FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).
As the rally season continues, attention now turns to the upcoming FIA WRC round 4 Croatia Rally scheduled from 9th to 12th April, while in Africa, preparations are also building momentum for the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, which serves as a key round 2 of the African Rally Championship (ARC).
In this interview, Miss Marina Dunach, FIA Category Manager, explained how the federation ensures consistent standards in safety, fairness, and technical regulations across all WRC events worldwide, while also supporting the development of regional and national rally championships such as those taking place in Croatia and Uganda.
The FIA ensures uniform standards across WRC events by deploying experienced officials responsible for sporting, technical, and safety compliance. These officials attend every rally in the championship, ensuring consistency in how rules are applied regardless of the host country where FIA officials work closely with event organizers to ensure all sporting and safety regulations meet global standards expected in the championship.
Before each event, the FIA collaborates closely with rally organizers to review event safety plans, route and stage design, technical compliance documents and emergency preparedness strategies.
During the rally, FIA delegates inspect whether approved safety measures are properly implemented. After the event, detailed reports are produced highlighting strengths and areas for improvement, helping organizers raise standards year after year.
The FIA actively supports regional championships such as the African Rally Championship, helping them reach international standards similar to WRC events.
The upcoming Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally is one example where these standards are important, as the event contributes to the growth of rally sport in Africa while providing local drivers an opportunity to compete under internationally recognized safety and sporting frameworks.
When safety or organizational gaps are identified, the FIA may issue warnings such as yellow cards, indicating that improvements are required. The federation also deploys experts to train marshals, screeterners, safety officers and event organizers.
These training programs help improve not only WRC level events but also national competitions, ensuring long-term development of motorsport structures in each country.
National Rally Championships are governed by ASNs (National Sporting Authorities), which operate in partnership with the FIA oversees,
Global championships like WRC, regional championships across continents (Africa, Europe, Asia etc.) events such as the Croatia Rally at global level and the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally at regional level demonstrate how the FIA structure connects international, regional, and national rally development pathways. Strong cooperation between the FIA and ASNs helps create a pathway for drivers and officials to progress from national competitions to regional and international levels.
Safety is a central priority for the FIA, covering all participants in rally events.
Miss Marina highlighted that safety measures include, strict safety plans defining spectator zones, designated safe areas along rally stages, continuous monitoring by FIA safety delegates, post stage deceleration zones to protect marshals, detailed inspection of rally routes before competition begins.
These safety standards are essential for rallies such as WRC, ARC events ensuring protection for drivers, co-drivers, officials, media and fans throughout the competition.
The FIA deploys teams both in rally control centers and on stages to ensure compliance with safety standards throughout the event.
Every rally car must pass technical inspections before being allowed to compete,
Roll cages (safety cages), helmets and fire-resistant overalls, HANS (Head and Neck Support) devices, seat harness systems and fire suppression systems.
Any car that does not meet FIA safety requirements is not permitted to start the rally, ensuring that competitors entering events like Croatia Rally and Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally compete under safe and fair conditions.
The FIA continuously monitors developments in rally car technology to ensure, balanced competition between teams, controlled performance levels, compliance with environmental considerations,
continuous improvement of vehicle safety standards,
dedicated FIA departments analyze data and feedback from events to refine technical regulations used across WRC and regional championships.
Miss Marina also highlighted that the FIA recognizes Africa as an important region for rally development, with strong talent emerging from countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and other parts of the continent.
Events like the Safari rally, Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally play a significant role in strengthening African rallying by increasing motorsport interest locally, developing skilled officials, raising safety standards in national championships, creating opportunities for drivers to compete internationally
FIA leadership continues working with regional stakeholders to strengthen the African rally ecosystem and ensure long term participation at global level.
Every safety component plays a vital role in protecting drivers, co-drivers, officials, media and fans as preparations continue for major rally events in both Europe and Africa.
