Grand Prix Drivers' Association

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Grand Prix Drivers' Association
Abbreviation GPDA
Formation 11 May 1961
Region served International
Chairman
Directors		 Spain Pedro de la Rosa
Australia Mark Webber
Spain Fernando Alonso
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The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (often shortened to just GPDA), is effectively the "union" of Formula One drivers.

Contents

History

The GPDA was founded in 1961 and was active during the 1960s and 1970s. Then, as now, the GPDA's primary objective was to improve and maintain safety standards. This led to boycotts of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in 1969 and the Nürburgring in 1970 and after 1976.

On the GPDA's formation in May 1961, Stirling Moss was elected chairman. Its initial aims were to obtain representation on the Commission Sportive Internationale de la FIA (CSI), which at the time was motorsport's governing body in order to improve safety standards and provisions for both drivers and spectators. After Moss retired from the sport in 1963, Jo Bonnier succeeded him.[1]

The organisation was disbanded during the 1982 Formula One season due to the effects of the changing commercial organisation of F1 and the conflicts between FOCA and FIA.

The GPDA was reformed over the weekend of the 1994 Monaco Grand Prix, following the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, as well as the serious accident of Rubens Barrichello, at the San Marino Grand Prix two weeks earlier (the drivers had proposed its reformation in the drivers' briefing on the morning of the race in San Marino, with Senna being appointed one of its directors just hours before his death).

In 1996, the association was incorporated in the UK as a company limited by guarantee as Grand Prix Drivers Association Ltd.[2] For the first time, the association had a formal constitution, and permanent offices in Monaco.[3]

Membership and leadership

Membership of GPDA is not compulsory however all drivers that are currently signed for the 2010 season are members.[4] Joining the GPDA costs £2,000.[5]

The members vote to decide their leaders. Currently there are three directors of GPDA, one of whom is the chairman. Since 2008, Pedro de la Rosa has been the chairman,[6] with Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso as the other directors.[7] De la Rosa wishes to step down after securing a race drive with the Sauber team ahead of the 2010 season; a vote will be held at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix to determine if he will do so, and, if he does, who his successor will be. De la Rosa has tipped Mercedes test driver Nick Heidfeld for the role.[8]

Chairman Years as chairman
United Kingdom David Coulthard unknown-2006
Germany Ralf Schumacher 2006-2008
Spain Pedro de la Rosa 2008-2010

Current issues

During the 2005 season the GPDA became increasingly involved in the politics (and controversy) of Formula One.

Following the United States Grand Prix the GPDA issued a statement supporting the case of the Michelin teams in the FIA World Motorsport Council. Significantly, though the majority of drivers signed the statement, Michael Schumacher did not. He claimed that he was not asked to, but would not have done so anyway. The statement claimed that the FIA's proposed solutions to the problems experienced by the Michelin teams were unworkable. Schumacher claimed the problems at Indianapolis were technical rather than a safety issue.

A meeting between the GPDA and FIA president Max Mosley, scheduled for the British Grand Prix, was cancelled by Mosley due to statements made by David Coulthard. Mosley claimed Coulthard's statements to the media were a "distortion" of the purpose of the meeting and accused him of stirring up dissent. In retaliation the GPDA released a letter that had been sent to Mosley accusing him of jeopardising the GPDA's drive for improved safety:

“We were also concerned to learn that during the course of [a telephone conversation with Coulthard], you suggested the FIA might withdraw support for the ongoing safety initiatives of the GPDA... The GPDA believes that safety issues are of the highest importance and are disappointed not to receive the full support of the FIA president in this matter".[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Whitelock, Mark (2006). 1 1/2-litre Grand Prix Racing. Veloce Publishing Ltd. p. 42. ISBN 184584016X. 
  2. ^ "Webcheck: Company No. 03157191". Companies House. http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/e51a175e9e00b8cac18a9949b0919609/compdetails. 
  3. ^ "The drivers challenge Mosley". GrandPrix.com. Inside F1, Inc.. 1996-04-01. http://grandprix.com/ns/ns00538.html. 
  4. ^ GPDA boosts membership with Massa
  5. ^ BBC News Online: Hamilton stance on union 'wrong'
  6. ^ "F1-Live.com: De la Rosa gets a new role in the GPDA"
  7. ^ "Autosport.com: Alonso elected as GPDA director ".
  8. ^ Noble, Jonathan (2010-02-25). "GPDA chairman vote set for Bahrain". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81707. Retrieved 2010-02-25. 
  9. ^ "GPDA Statement ".

External links

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