LAURA VILLARS has become the first woman in history to run for the FIA presidency.
The 28-year-old Swiss racing driver launched a shock bid today to challenge controversial president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Instagram @l_raphaelLaura Villars is the first woman ever to run for the FIA presidency[/caption]
Instagram @laura_villarsThe Swiss racing driver is also an entrepreneur[/caption]
GettyVillars has worked with Ferrari previously in the Ferrari Endurance series[/caption]
Instagram @laura_villarsVillars has nearly 100k followers on Instagram[/caption]
Instagram @laura_villarsVillars is currently competing in Ligier European Series JS P4.[/caption]
Villars is also an entrepreneur and has featured in fashion magazines like Elle and L’Officiel.
She has been involved with Ferrari in the past, taking part in the Ferrari Challenge Europe Championship in 2024.
She said in a statement: “The FIA must once again be the federation of clubs and license holders,
“My ambition is a governance that is more democratic, more transparent, more responsible, and open to women and new generations.
“I strongly believe that motorsport needs diversity and innovation to keep inspiring younger generations worldwide.”
Villars started out in motorsport at age 14, racing across international sports car racing series.
In 2023, she finished fifth in her first full-time Ultimate Cup Series F3R season, and she’s currently competing in Ligier European Series JS P4.
The presidential election will take place on December 12 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, during the General Assembly.
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In 2023 Villars finished fifth in her first full-time Ultimate Cup Series F3R season
Instagram @laura_villarsShe started out in motorsport at age 14[/caption]
Instagram @laura_villarsVillars has starred in fashion magazines like Elle[/caption]
Instagram @laura_villarsVillars is a complete change from the current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem[/caption]
Last December former Steward Tim Mayer announced his candidacy for the presidency and took a huge swipe at Sulayem, saying the FIA is suffering from a “corrosive concentration of power”.
As part of Villars’ announcement, she laid out her agenda, highlighting five key points which include sustainability and women in motorsport.
There have been a series of hiring and mostly firings under Dubai-born president Sulayem.
His deputy, Robert Reid, the former rally co-driver, resigned from his post earlier this year.
In the past year, Sulayem has sacked the FIA’s head of diversity Sara Mariani, head of compliance Paolo Basarri, the head of the audit committee Bertrand Badre and committee member Tom Purves.
He has also axed the FIA’s chief executive officer Natalie Robyn, F1 race director Niels Wittich, senior F1 steward Mayer and deputy Formula 2 race director Janette Tan.
In April Mercedes driver George Russell slammed the FIA’s “unstable” leadership.
Max Verstappen said in Saudi Arabia this season that he felt he had been gagged by the FIA having been punished for swearing in press conferences.
Drivers like seven-time world champion Hamilton have also come under fire for tattoos and piercings in recent years.
Instagram @laura_villarsVillars is a fashion icon in the paddock too[/caption]
Instagram @laura_villarsVillars is often seen jet-setting across the globe on her Instagram[/caption]
