According to the Authority, the Automobile Club d’Italia has allegedly hindered sports promotion bodies, amateur sports associations and automobile clubs in the organisation of non-competitive automobile events.

The Italian Competition Authority has initiated investigation proceedings against Automobile Club d’Italia - ACI, ACI Sport S.p.A. and Club ACI Storico to assess an alleged abuse of a dominant position in the market for the organisation of non-competitive automobile events.

The Automobile Club d’Italia is an operator in a dominant position in the organisation of automobile sports events of a competitive nature at national level, thanks to the exclusive powers of regulation and coordination granted by CONI (the Italian National Olympic Committee). According to the Authority, ACI - also through ACI Sport S.p.A. and Club ACI Storico - allegedly adopted behaviours to hinder or prevent sports promotion bodies, amateur sports associations and automobile clubs from organising non-competitive events in order to expand its position in this market and increase the number of its affiliates/members.

ACI’s strategy allegedly consists of sending complaints to the bodies in charge of controls (Prefectures, Police Headquarters and/or Municipal Authorities) - close to the start of recreational and amateur events - to inform them that these events had allegedly not been submitted for the prior opinion of ACI - not provided for in the reference legislation - and that they would be taking place in non-compliance with the technical and sporting regulations. This unlawful use of its regulatory and coordination powers has allegedly involved numerous amateur motoring events organised in different Italian regions, at least since 2016, thus altering market dynamics.

Today, Authority officials carried out inspections at the offices of Automobile Club d’Italia-ACI, ACI Sport S.p.A. and Club ACI Storico, with the assistance of the Special Antitrust Unit of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza).

Rome, 18 October 2023