FIA presidential candidate Laura Villars has not ruled out a legal challenge against the governing body and has raised what she says are “legitimate concerns” about the election process.
It emerged this week that none of current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s rivals for the December 12 vote appear likely to be able to stand against him because they will be unable to pull together the required presidential list.
This is the team of 10 people who are put forward for election alongside each presidential candidate. They include the president of the senate, the deputy president for automobile mobility and tourism, the deputy president for sport plus seven vice-presidents for sport.
A requirement that at least one of the vice presidents that will sit on the World Motor Sport Council must come from South America appears now impossible for anyone other than Ben Sulayem to fulfil.
This is because only one candidate from that region - Fabiana Ecclestone from Brazil, who is already part of Ben Sulayem’s team - has been declared as eligible to stand in a list of the 29 individuals published by the FIA.
With an October 24 deadline for the presidential lists to be submitted, all indications point to Ben Sulayem being the only candidate who can comply with the demands.
If the three rivals who have put themselves forward - Villars, former chief Formula 1 steward Tim Mayer and Virginie Philippot - cannot get a presidential list together, then they will not even make it onto the ballot paper.
Villars's concerns
Villars made clear on Thursday, however, that she was pushing on with her campaign - as she revealed that exchanges were taking place between her legal team and the FIA over the situation.
As she published her manifesto, Villars suggested that there was an argument that recent procedural changes that had altered election rules may have been in breach of the FIA statutes.
Several alterations to the election rules were made earlier this year and approved at the FIA General Assembly meeting in Macau in June.
Villars said: “Formal exchanges are currently ongoing between my legal team and the FIA Administration, as the current electoral procedure raises legitimate concerns of conformity with the FIA statutes.
“Independent legal opinions obtained by my team also confirm that several recent procedural changes are inconsistent with the statutes and must be corrected.
“In accordance with Article 1.3 of the FIA statutes, the Federation must uphold the highest standards of governance, transparency and democracy.
“All options - including legal and judicial ones - therefore remain under consideration to ensure that these principles are fully respected, in line with the FIA’s status as a French law non-profit association.
“As candidates, we share a collective responsibility to ensure that the FIA remains a beacon of transparency and democracy - principles that are the foundation of its legitimacy and global credibility.”
Article 1.3 of the FIA statutes states: “The FIA shall respect the highest standards of governance, transparency and democracy, including anticorruption functions and procedures.”
The FIA has declined to comment on the matter, but has been clear in recent days that all information regarding the election process was publicly available to candidates long before the period to submit a presidential list was open.
Manifesto launch
While Villars’ legal team is in contact with the FIA over the election process, she is pushing ahead in outlining her vision for the future of the governing body.
On Thursday her manifesto was released, which she says in particular “empowers young drivers, strengthens women in motorsport, and restores trust in governance”.
The document outlined some of her visions for the future, which included the launch of an FIA Social Academy worth €20million per year to support 120 young drivers in karting, F4 and F3.
A cost cap for F4 (€150,000 per year) and F3 (€600,000 per year) has also been suggested as part of an effort to help bring budgets down.
Furthermore, there is a plan for a €15m Women in Motorsport Fund, with 20 scholarships per year and the creation of a Women FIA Series in 2030 off the back of four continental championships starting in 2027.
Villars also eyes improved governance and diversity, through an Annual Integrity Report, gender parity across management positions by 2030, and more transparency over budgets.
She added: “Our campaign continues with determination and in full respect of institutional dialogue.
“We remain confident that a fair and transparent outcome will prevail, and that all candidates committed to the FIA’s values will have the opportunity to compete on equal grounds.”
She added: “Several member clubs I have been in contact with have expressed surprise and concern at the current situation, which they believe does not reflect the democratic spirit of the FIA statutes.”
