The FIA is about to elect a new president and every one who has ever had cause to doubt the motives, means or methods of FIA presidents or the FIA itself has a rare opportunity.

Now is the time to decide if you wish to put up with more of the same or act. If allegations that the outgoing president is inappropriately attempting to determine his replacement are true, action is urgently required. That action will need to come from you because I very much doubt the FIA is going to act unprompted. Indeed, I suspect that the FIA would have to be dragged kicking, screaming and spitting bile merely to get it to the brink of action.

The following satirical escapee from my mind was originally hewn as a cheeky attention-getter to open this article. The more I regard it, the less funny it seems so I demoted it.

Maxism noun. [mahks-schizm], Of or pertaining to a hierarchal governance structure whereby supreme executive power is conferred on an individual via an illusory democratic process. Maxists are intolerant of criticism and detractors are dealt with harshly. Maxists become extremely volatile during spawning (election) season and react aggressively when their chosen successor is threatened. Some believe that Maxists are Democravores - creatures that consume democracy.

The FIA's web site assures me that the body is governed very democratically. The president is voted for by The General Assembly. The General Assembly in turn is comprised of representatives who are voted for by peak national motoring bodies. The peak national motoring bodies themselves are voted for by member clubs and the member clubs are voted for by rank and file members. Lots of voting and all very democratic if I am to believe what I read. However, I do not believe what read.

The FIA's web page headed Governance opens with the statement:

"The FIA is structured in line with the proposals contained in the 2001 Statement of Good Governance Principles produced by the Governance in Sport Working Group."

A link is provided to the statement referred to. Item 3.4 of that report is headed "Democracy, elections and appointments". It sets out the expectations and recommendations of the report. I suggest you read it for yourself and then do you best to ensure your representative on the FIA General Assembly has also done so.

If recent reports of Max's threatening letter to Prince Faisal of Jordan are accurate - and to date I have seen no indications to the contrary - then I fear Max has grossly breached these guidelines. If so, he has made a mockery of the FIA's declaration of adherence to the principals referred to above. Now that really would be bringing the sport, the ruling body and its principals of governance into disrepute. Individuals have recently been banned from all things FIA for less.

The following quote is supposedly an extract from Max's letter to Prince Faisal:

"…Any thoughts that after this election everyone in motorsport can unite and work together can now be forgotten...."