Armenia, FIA discuss development of motorsport

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, Zhanna Andreasyan, met with a delegation from the International Automobile Federation (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile – FIA) led by Secretary General for Sport, Valerio Iachizzi.

According to the ministry’s readout, Andreasyan emphasized the importance of the visit and noted that the development of automobile motorsport in Armenia can have not only sporting but also educational and technological significance. She stated that the sector can serve as an effective mechanism for promoting engineering education, particularly within the framework of technological clusters in the academic city.

During the meeting, the FIA’s “Affordable Cross Car” project was presented. As part of this initiative, specialists from the Armenian Automobile Federation built a cross-car racing vehicle for the first time, completing the entire process within Armenia. The Minister highlighted that the initiative will help uncover young people’s potential, increase student engagement, and promote the development of applied knowledge.

The FIA official expressed gratitude for the reception and willingness to cooperate, noting that in recent years Armenia has developed professional expertise in motorsport, along with growth in organizational capabilities and progress in the sector. Regarding the “Affordable Cross Car” project, it was noted that the FIA has developed solutions that allow for on-site production of the vehicles.

The project aims to create an environment where motorsport can be accessible without major financial investments, relying on local production and minimal resources. Armenia has become the latest country to join this FIA initiative. An international FIA advisor worked in Armenia for about 10 days, assessing the high professional capabilities of the local team. Within just a few months, local specialists established domestic production and built a small but complete ecosystem, which received positive evaluations from international experts.

The meeting also touched upon the FIA scholarship program, offered at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom for students specializing in motorsport mechatronics.

Andreasyan suggested exploring cooperation with the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, including student engagement, exchange programs, and joint science-education projects.

Summing up the meeting, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan reaffirmed the Armenian government’s readiness to deepen cooperation and, through joint efforts, develop motorsport in Armenia as an important area for education, technology, and youth potential development.