Latest FIA departure as road sport director Andrew Wheatley leaves post

Motorsport.com understands that FIA Road Sport Director Andrew Wheatley has left his post at the governing body.

Wheatley’s sudden departure comes in the wake of a number of personnel changes and turmoil at the FIA ​​in recent weeks. Details regarding his exit have not been clarified yet.

The former M-Sport employee joined the FIA ​​as WRC category manager in 2019 before earning promotion to the role of rally director in 2022.

It came as the former Citroën WRC boss Yves Maton steps down in December 2021After playing a key role in implementing the WRC’s Rally1 regulations, launched in 2022.

Wheatley’s role changed to the position of Road Sport Director this year.

This latest departure follows a number of high-profile exits from the FIA, Following the ouster of Formula 2 race director Janet Tan last week And Longtime FIA ​​race steward Tim Meyer,

Formula 1 race director last month Niels Wittich also left the organizationand the governing body in October Director of Communications Luke Skipper and Secretary General of Mobility Jakob Bangsgaard parted ways,

At the end of last year both sports directors Steve Nielsen and single-seater technical director Tim Goss resignWhile Deborah Mayer, head of the FIA ​​Women in Motorsport Commission, also left. FIA’s first CEO Natalie Robin Also left the organization in May After less than two years in the role.

Before joining the FIA, Wheatley worked in the Belgian and Polish rally championships. After joining the company in 1999, he took up a business development role at British rally squad M-Sport in 2005.

It was in this position that Wheatley was involved in racing projects in M-Sport’s S2000, R2 and R5 programs as well as GT3 racing for Bentley and the now defunct Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy.

Wheatley has been an ever-present at WRC tours, overseeing the category, and this year has been heavily involved in helping the discipline chart its future path, including Formation of 2027 RegulationsWill be released at the World Motor Sport Council next week. The rally veteran was also part of the FIA’s WRC Commission.

It is unclear who will fill the position in 2025.