Swiss driver Laura Villars has surprised the motorsport world by announcing her candidacy to become the first female president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
Villars, 28 years old, made public his intention to compete against the current president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and Tim Meyer, who has already confirmed his own candidacy.
The FIA must once again be the federation of clubs and license holders.
Villars, when presenting his manifesto, expressed his ambition to establish a more democratic, transparent, responsible, and open governance to women and new generations. Furthermore, he emphasized the need for diversity and innovation in motorsport to inspire younger generations worldwide.Laura Villars es candidata a la presidencia de la FIA.The news of Villars’ candidacy was a surprise, as he still has to submit the necessary documentation to formalize his proposal, although he has until October 24 to do so.
By that date, it must have formed a Presidential List, which will include a team for its cabinet, composed of a senate president, two vice presidents (one for motorsport and another for automotive mobility) and seven vice presidents for the different global regions into which the FIA is divided.
In his announcement, Villars outlined five key pillars for his manifesto, including strengthening transparency in finance and decision-making, a topic that has generated controversy in Ben Sulayem’s management. He also pledged to increase female participation in motorsport.
Tim Mayer, a US motorsport official, submitted his candidacy in May. Mayer has a long history in the motor world and was a FIA race steward in several championships until last December.
The presidential election will take place on December 12th of this year in Uzbekistan, during the FIA General Assembly.
