1-193-204 - National Motor Museum/Heritage Images

Jean-Marie Balestre speaking to Bernie Ecclestone, c1978-c1991. Balestre was a founder member of the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA) in 1952, and in 1973 became FFSA president. Five years later he was president of the International Sporting Commission of the FIA (Federale Internationale de l'Automobile). He transformed this into FISA (Federation Internationale de Sport Automobile), of which he was president between 1978-1991. It was as FISA president that he took part in the fight for the control of F1 racing - known as the FISA-FOCA war - with Bernie Ecclestone and the other F1 team bosses between 1980-82. Ecclestone was Chief Executive of FOCA (Formula 1 Constructors Association). The result was a compromise which gave Ecclestone commercial control of F1 but retained sporting power for the FIA.