Jean-Marie Balestre speaking to Bernie Ecclestone tortoise View showing a man seated

View showing a man seated at a table with a drink and a pipe

ladling coins into their mouths

Poulterer's shop in Clare Market

6th May 1975

Jean-Marie Balestre speaking to Bernie Ecclestone tortoise View showing a man seatedJean 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