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Dear reader,

The end-of-year edition of AUTO is always special because its publication coincides with the period in which the FIA holds its Annual General Assembly and its Prize Giving ceremony, where all the FIA champions receive their awards and, as you can see, this is the occasion referenced on the cover of the magazine.

This time, its appearance is even more propitious as it coincides with the end of a four-year period of governance and the time to choose a President to lead our organisation for the next cycle. I am honoured and proud that this great family of ours has chosen me to serve a third consecutive term. I want to once again thank all the members of the FIA’s Member Clubs for their support. I see this as a validation of the direction the FIA has taken under my leadership, and as encouragement to continue the programme we have pursued over the past eight years.

AUTO’s series of in-depth interviews with major players in the automotive world continues in this issue as we talk to two people
who have taken their company to the very top of this industry: Li Shufu has turned Geely into the symbol of the Chinese auto industry, while Alberto Bombassei has placed Italian brake company Brembo at the technological cutting edge in motor sport and in the world of road cars.

Over the past two years, diesel power has been a very tricky topic, causing confusion and concern among motorists. But what exactly is the future of a technology that, for 20 years, had grown so relentlessly? AUTO asks several experts in the field to clear up one of motoring’s biggest debates.

The past and the future are woven together through the pages of this magazine. You can read an interview with Alejandro Agag, the promotor of the FIA Formula E Championship, and with talented young racing driver Lando Norris, while also finding a retrospective look at one of the legends of rallying, Walter Röhrl. There is also a feature on one of the most storied race tracks in the USA, namely Sebring. As for the section dedicated to our clubs, this time we look at Norway. There’s plenty more besides. I hope you like it and, as usual, if you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can improve the magazine, we would love to hear from you.

Enjoy the read and happy 2018!

Jean Todt