“In that period of oil crisis the Formula 1 Association began to make its mark”
DOUG NYE
Motor sport’s governing body used to be the FIA’s Commission Sportive Internationale – or CSI. Over many years it came in for a few brickbats from unhappy constructors and entrants, and one such spat erupted pretty much behind the scenes at the turn of 1972/73.
In that period of oil crisis, recession and economic inflation – sound familiar? – the emerging Formula 1 Association really began to make its mark, thanks largely to very new members Bernie Ecclestone of Brabham and Max Mosley of March. The issue was a money-terms dispute with the circuit owners/race promoters, which had led to them persuading their friends on the CSI – whose members were elected by national motor clubs including effectively all the Grand Prix race organisers – to suggest including ‘cheaper’ Formula 2 and 5000 cars to bolster F1 GP grids through 1973. When this was announced on December 6, 1972, it hit the F1 Association as a real shock.