Professor Sid Watkins has retired from the FIA Institute Presidency at the Annual General Assembly of the Institute in Delhi today. Following the announcement and with the unanimous support of the General Assembly, former Deputy President, Professor Gérard Saillant, was elected as the Institute’s new President. Executive Committee member Garry Connelly was elected as the new Deputy President. Nominated by the SMSA, the Singapore ASN, Colin Syn was elected to the Institute’s Executive Committee. Following the elections, Professor Watkins was unanimously elected as the first Honorary President of the FIA Institute and will continue to be an ambassador for its important programmes across the world. On the occasion of his retirement the Executive Committee and membership of the Institute presented Professor Watkins with a bronze statue as a tribute to all he has achieved in a remarkable 50-year career in motor sport.
“It has been an honour and a great pleasure to lead the Institute since its establishment,” said Watkins. “I am very proud of our achievements and our plans for the future, both in terms of motor sport safety and sustainability. I look forward to continue making a modest contribution to these in my new capacity as Honorary President.”
“Sid’s influence in motor sport is legendary,” said Institute Secretary General Richard Woods. “In everything he’s done throughout his career, he has always been a leader in his field. He led the calls for improved safety throughout the 1980s and ever since has been the catalyst for its continuous development by the FIA and more recently by the Institute. Sid’s legacy for the cause of safety in our sport is unique.”
joeblogsf1 
Arise Sir Sidney!
Why hasn’t this happened yet,
it’s been talked about..
He should get a gong in the next Honours List – and a big one. There is a process by which the (UK) public can nominate people. I’m going to see how it works.
He’s a hero and his first book is faaaaaaaaantastic.
I have long held the opinion that the best thing Bernie ever did was to (a) bring in Sid Watkins and (b) Listen to Sid when he said safty and medical facilities were not up to scratch.
Sid should have had a Knighthood a long time ago….
One of the few men universally respected, if not revered by everyone in F1 and motor racing in general.
I agree with other posts above that he should be officially honoured both by the UK and France. (the FIA being essentially French as is the GP itself)
mattw and rpaco say it all.
I am not British but I agree, Sir Sid Watkins. He is a hero to many. There are men who are alive today solely because of his efforts.
It is hard to think of anyone who has done a better job at anything in F1 over the years. As well as doing a great job he is universally respected. In fact I think it is fair to say I have never heard a single criticism of him and there is no-one else you can say that about..
I don’t think even Mansell said anything negative when Sid told him he was a ******* idiot.
A lot of people are reacting as if Sid Watkins is leaving his post as Medical Adviser to F1 in particular & Motorsport in general. However he stepped down from that post in January 2005, when he was replaced by long time deputy Gary Hartstein. He is now resigning his role as President of the FIA Institute which does
this :-
http://www.fiainstitute.com/about/Pages/home.aspx