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JEDDAH: The city of Jeddah is gearing up to host the fourth round of the Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship on Nov. 27-29.

The Jeddah Grand Prix will be held as part of Jeddah Season 2025, following the recent handover of the championship’s hosting flag to the Saudi delegation during a special ceremony in Shanghai, China, attended by Nicolo di San Germano, the founder and international organizer of the F1 Powerboat World Championship.

DUBAI: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, will open the FIA Asia Pacific Congress in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Wednesday by spotlighting the region’s growing impact on motor sport and mobility.

The congress, hosted by the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand, brings together motorsport and automotive mobility leaders from across Asia and the Pacific to discuss key initiatives in road safety, sustainable mobility, regional sporting growth, and innovation in transport.

Speaking ahead of the congress, Ben Sulayem said: “I am delighted to be joining our members and partners in Chiang Mai for the FIA Asia Pacific Congress, and I look forward to building on the region’s impressive progress in both mobility and sport.

“Asia and the Pacific are among the fastest growing areas of our federation, and the commitment shown by our members here is driving real impact, from safer roads and sustainable transport to new opportunities for grassroots and elite competition.

“This gathering is an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration across the region, share expertise in mobility and motorsport, and advance our shared priorities of safety, sustainability and innovation.”

The theme of this year’s FIA Asia Pacific Congress is “Innovate. Integrate. Accelerate: Driving a sustainable future for mobility and sport,” with the program designed to equip member clubs with new strategies and insights into evolving mobility and sporting trends.

This includes a focus on sustainable practices, affordable grassroots pathways, and the evolution of artificial intelligence and its role in the FIA’s sectors.

The event comes as motorsport and mobility innovation gather pace across the region. Sri Lanka recently hosted the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship with 18 nations and 204 competitors, while Malaysia will stage the first FIA “Arrive and Drive” Karting World Cup this November.

In 2026, Formula One returns to Australia, China, and Japan, alongside the World Rally Championship and World Endurance Championship in Japan and Formula E in Shanghai and Tokyo.

On the mobility side, the Safe Helmets for Asia Pacific Initiative recently held its first workshop in Manila, bringing together delegates from Cambodia, China, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to chart new roadmaps for safer helmets.