The challengers to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem

As we were putting the finishing touches to this issue a Swiss racing driver caused a minor storm within the tightly controlled world of FIA communications with a surprise announcement that she was to run against the incumbent president of the governing body, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“Laura Villars announced she was to run against president Ben Sulayem”

Laura Villars is the first woman to challenge for the post and at 28 is of a different generation both to Ben Sulayem, and the only other runner in the race, Tim Mayer, an American motor sport official and son of McLaren stalwart Teddy. The vote will take place in December and as Mark Hughes reports on page 10 the implications in the medium term could be far reaching from a sporting point of view, with a potential showdown with F1 owner Liberty Media over engine regulations on the cards in 2030 if Ben Sulayem wins a second term.

A change at the top should also herald a change in governance. Both Mayer’s and Villars’ manifestos focus on reforming the office which has been mired in controversy and accusations that it is run by a publicity-seeking president who fires elected officials at will and railroads decisions – not least by the respected boss of Motorsport UK David Richards, who talked of a “shift of moral compass” within the organisation under Ben Sulayem.

The FIA is too important an institution to be run as the personal fiefdom of one person who stands accused, as Mayer memorably put it, of presiding over a “reign of terror” and so any challenge to his power must be welcomed. As for the candidates, Mayer appears to be the safe option with Villars’ manifesto appearing a little light on detail…

One area that she does highlight is the role of the FIA in promoting motor sport to new blood and women. “I strongly believe that motor sport needs diversity and innovation to keep inspiring younger generations worldwide,” she says.

We couldn’t agree more and would suggest that she could start by celebrating the contribution women have made to motor sport since its origin over 120 years ago. And there’s no better place to start for fans than by reading Paul Fearnley’s exhaustive and brilliant countdown of the greatest drives by women, starting on page 64. And of course if she wins the race to the presidency, Villars will have earned her spot in future such countdowns as a genuinely pioneering woman in motor sport.

Joe Dunn, editor
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