The FIA, motor sport’s global governing body, is looking at the possibility of encouraging new African championships to develop motor-racing across the continent.

The Funding Review Commission was set up by the FIA following last year’s Concorde Agreement extension to develop grassroots motor sport and Graham Stoker, the FIA's deputy president for sport who chairs the body, said that Africa is top of the agenda.

“There are not enough motor sport events in Africa, and potentially there are lots of top-class racers and rally drivers in that region. We’ve got to be in a position to identify them and help them find the way up the motor sport ladder,” Stoker told SportBusiness International.

“This new commission could very much lead to new regional championships. We’ve just got to look at whether they are affordable, accessible to all and relevant to the region so that we can put motor sport events into Africa that makes sporting and economic sense.

“I’m very interested in this area, and we want to make sure that all talent has an opportunity to try motor sport. We also need to look into social networking and virtual clubs to connect with young people in order to grow the sport.