With the fall of Bashar al-Assad last week, Syrians are now bracing themselves for major social changes that they have not witnessed in decades. The Syrian Automobile Club, who oversees auto racing in the country as its FIA national sporting authority, hopes to help in ensuring a stable transition to a newly freed Syria by continuing to offer services as usual.

“We congratulate our country on this new beginning, which we hope will bring goodness and happiness to the Syrian people of all kinds,” begins a statement from the SAC’s board of directors.

“The Syrian Automobile Club is committed to its societal, humanitarian, and service roles, in addition to its sports-related role, in support of our nation and its people. The club will continue to provide its usual services and maintain its positive role in serving the Syrian community and supporting motorsports in Syria.

“Our offices will reopen in the coming days based on government instructions and the general situation.”

Founded in 1950 and predating the Assad regime, the SAC has served as Syria’s FIA representative since 1960. Besides supporting safe driving infrastructure, the club oversees national championships in disciplines like hillclimbing and speed tests. The nation’s largest racing series, the Syrian Drift Championship, was launched by the SAC in 2016.

The SAC also sanctioned the Syrian International Rally from 1998 through 2010, with much of its life being spent on the FIA Middle East Rally Championship.

Assad’s dictatorship, widely condemned as one of the most totalitarian in the world with gross human rights violations, collapsed last weekend after an offensive by rebel forces that rapidly claimed territory before taking the capital of Damascus (where the SAC is headquartered). The rebellion had started in 2011 with protests that culminated in a bloody and multi-sided civil war. Assad’s forces, aided by Russia and Iran, had mostly contained the fighting with a ceasefire in 2020; with his allies bogged down by conflicts with Ukraine and Israel, the rebels took the opportunity to strike.

Following opposition victory, various national entities quickly put together messages of support for peace and a new era. For example, the Syrian Football Association quickly updated its crest to replace the Ba’athist flag motif with one in the green-white-black “independence flag”.

“The past days have exhausted us and taken away from our lives, our efforts, and our work,” wrote Mazed Mourad, who added he “chose to stay in the country despite all the danger and fears” because his “hope has always been for a new life and a bright future for Syria.” Mourad, a dentist by trade, also works as a steward for the SAC. “The time has come to close a difficult chapter and to open a new one in the history of our beloved Syria.”

Others posted more direct messages that called out Assadists or Assad himself. Following his defeat, Assad has since fled to Russia.

“I hope every loyalist looks at themselves and realizes how oppressed they were under dictatorial rule,” drift racer Ahmad Alnjjar posted. “Praise be to God, may God have mercy on the martyrs, the first day of joy after 14 years, a day of joy for all Syrians.”

Featured image credit: Syrian Automobile Club