THE RACE to become the new head of the FIA is heating up as two glamorous new candidates are set to enter the picture.
Incumbent president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is running again for the position at the top of the International Automobile Federation, who oversee Formula One.
Instagram @virginiephilippotVirginie Philippot has announced her candidacy for the FIA presidency[/caption]
Instagram @virginiephilippotShe is the second woman to bid for the role[/caption]
Instagram @virginiephilippotPhillipot is a former Miss Belgium[/caption]
He was already facing opposition from American Motorsport official Tim Mayer for the role, which will be decided through a mid-December election in Uzbekistan.
But now two new candidates have thrown their hats in the ring in a bid to become the first female heads of the organisation.
Swiss racing driver and entrepreneur Laura Villars, 28, announced her candidacy last month, and highlighted the importance of promoting diversity on track.
And earlier this week she was joined by Belgian model and racing journalist Virginie Philippot, 33.
The surprise candidate announced her campaign on Monday, releasing a statement to her Instagram account setting out her motivations.
She said: “I’m running for the presidency of the FIA. Not to be the first, but to make sure l’m not the last.
“I believe motorsport should reflect the real world, bold, diverse, and united.
“As a woman with a global vision and deep roots, I’m here to open doors that have stayed closed for too long.
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“Let’s build a FIA that’s truly inclusive for every voice, every story, every passion.
“The race for the future starts now.”
Instagram @laura_villarsLaura Villars is also contesting the presidency[/caption]
Instagram @laura_villarsThe Swiss racing driver, 28, is also gunning to be the first female FIA head[/caption]
Instagram @laura_villarsThe election for the presidency is set to be held on December 12th in Uzbekistan[/caption]
Philippot was previously a model, being named Miss Belgium in 2012 and going on to compete for Miss International in 2017.
She has since moved into the world of motorsport as a journalist and influencer.
She has gone behind the scenes with teams like Red Bull and Ferrari, and uploads content to her 41 thousand-follower Instagram account.
In 2023 she set up a charity aimed at providing support to orphans and education in the Democratic Republic of Congo, called ‘Drive For Hope.’
Her candidacy remains a long shot given the deep racing pedigree of her competitors, but we will have to wait until December 12th to find out the official results of the race.
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