FIA Foundation Trustee and President of the FIA, Max Mosley has been made a Chevalier dans l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur in recognition of his contribution to road safety and motor sport.
Presenting the award, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy commended Mr Mosley for his commitment to promoting road safety, which includes his former chairmanship of Euro NCAP, as well as for his role in establishing the FIA Foundation to champion the cause of safer roads worldwide, saying:
"It was at your instigation that the FIA Foundation was created in 2002, thanks to the 360 million euros resulting from the transfer of the Formula One commercial rights. A British, non-profit-making organisation, the Foundation today devotes several million euros to improving road and motor sport safety at the international level.
I know that this Foundation recently donated 1.5 million dollars to the World Health Organisation for a joint road safety project in developing countries. That was a strong gesture towards the most deprived countries, and one which I would particularly like to salute this evening".
The French Sports Minister Jean-François Lamour was also present at the ceremony which was held in the French Foreign Ministry at the Quai d’Orsay in Paris. Family, friends and colleagues from the automotive industry and the world of motor sport were also invited to witness Mr Mosley receive his award.
Download Mr Douste-Blazy’s speech here