Breaking Fia Deputy President Resigns Over 'breakdown In Governance'

In a shocking turn of events, FIA deputy president Robert Reid has resigned from his position over what he calls a breakdown in the organisation's governance.

Reid, a former rally champion, put out a statement on Thursday, saying his decision was a matter of principle. This follows reports about the authoritarian style leadership within the FIA which has created factional lines.

The resignation and announcement has only drawn up more speculation about the inner dynamics of the FIA under president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

I took this role to help deliver greater transparency, stronger governance and more collaborative leadership, Reid wrote in a statement.

'Over time, those principles have increasingly been set aside and I can no longer, in good faith, remain part of a system that no longer reflects them. Stepping away was not easy, however, staying would have meant compromising what I believe in. This is about principles, not politics,'