FIA lifts all restrictions on Russian motor sports, says RAF Vice President

MOSCOW, August 13. /TASS/. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has lifted all previously imposed restrictions on Russian motor sports, Vice President of the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) Vitaly Petrov told TASS on Thursday.

"The FIA has lifted all restrictions regarding our athletes," Petrov stated.

RAF President Boris Rotenberg said in turn: "I wholeheartedly congratulate all our racing drivers, colleagues, everyone involved in motor sports and who played a part in getting this just decision made."

"This is an important day for Russian motorsport as Russia's stance has been reinstated at the legal level as our athletes will once again represent Russia in the international arena without any compromises, reservations or artificial barriers," Rotenberg noted.

"A lot of diplomatic work has been exerted by the RAF to achieve this decision. We [RAF] have always maintained a professional dialogue with our colleagues from the FIA, firmly protecting our national interests. Sports and culture should be beyond politics as they are the ones that unite nations. The justice prevailed," he continued.

"We are grateful to the International Automobile Federation for the constructive dialogue and are ready to jointly resolve all pressing issues," RAF President Rotenberg added.

Starting from March 1, 2022 in connection with the war in Ukraine, the FIA top brass restricted auto racers from Russia and Belarus to compete only under a neutral flag and also requested all of them sign a special document that stipulated a number of specific restrictions.