​The 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, the Brazilian round of the World Endurance Championship, will host an FIA-driven initiative that broadens the focus on safety beyond the race track. Throughout the event, the federation will showcase companies that are certified under the FIA Road Safety Index, an international program designed to gauge the maturity of road safety management within corporate and logistics operations. The FIA Road Safety Index assesses a range of criteria, including carrier management, driver safety requirements, training programs, alcohol and drug policies, journey monitoring, the use of safety devices, and overarching management processes aimed at preventing accidents. Certification is evidence-based and confirmed through an independent FIA audit.
The certification process unfolds in two stages. Initially, each company performs a self-assessment based on documented evidence of its processes and practices. Subsequently, an independent FIA audit verifies the information and assigns a final rating that reflects the level of maturity identified. Among the recognised organisations is ArcelorMittal, a global steel producer, which attained the highest three-star rating following an independent audit at its facility in Santa Catarina, Brazil. This accolade holds particular significance for the company, which also contributes directly to safety in motorsport by manufacturing the safety cage used in Stock Car race cars—an essential structure designed to enhance driver protection in the event of a crash.
Luanda Dantas Guerra, President of the Brazilian Automobile Association (AAB), notes that the certification demonstrates how the insights developed in motorsport can translate into tangible societal benefits. “The FIA has a long history of converting innovation and knowledge generated on the race track into advances that improve people’s safety. Seeing a company like ArcelorMittal receive the highest rating in the FIA Road Safety Index during one of the world’s premier motorsport events underscores this connection. As the first organisation in Brazil to be certified, ArcelorMittal sets a vital benchmark and helps clear the path for other companies to pursue this agenda as well.”
Marcia Spelta, ArcelorMittal’s General Manager of Health and Safety, says the recognition reinforces a prevention culture that permeates both industrial operations and mobility-related initiatives. “This certification demonstrates that our approach to risk management and prevention aligns with the highest international standards and strengthens our ongoing commitment to protecting people.”
The Road Safety Index, created by the FIA, is already in use in multiple countries to help organisations evaluate and improve their road safety management, reinforcing a global agenda that channels the excellence of motorsport safety into broader societal protection and safer business practices. This initiative, showcased at Sao Paulo, serves to amplify SEA-level awareness of road safety and highlight best practices that can be adopted across industries.