Photo: Race Pictures

FIA presidential candidate secures emergency hearing in Paris

17:30, 29 Oct

Updated: 17:32, 29 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

Laura Villars, FIA presidential candidate, has secured an emergency court hearing in Paris next month to present her complaints regarding the FIA presidential election process.

Villars was one of three individuals, along with Virginie Philipott and former Formula 1 steward Tim Mayer, who had expressed their intention to stand in the upcoming FIA presidential election against the current president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Under FIA election regulations, each candidate must submit a presidential list comprising 10 individuals from different regions of the world.

According to the current eligibility status of regional representatives, Fabiana Ecclestone is the only eligible representative from South America and has already declared support for Ben Sulayem.

As no other eligible candidates were put forward from that region, other presidential hopefuls are unable to complete their lists.

Tim Mayer during the British Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

The deadline for submitting the presidential lists was October 24. Following this, Mayer announced that he would not pursue legal action and would instead address his concerns through internal FIA procedures.

Villars, who previously raised concerns about the election process, has now taken legal steps after not receiving what she described as sufficient responses from the FIA.

The Judicial Court of Paris has granted her an emergency hearing, allowing the FIA to be summoned before an emergency judge on November 10.

Villars said: “I have twice tried to open a constructive dialogue with the FIA on essential matters such as internal democracy and the transparency of electoral rules. The responses received were not up to the challenge.

"I am not acting against the FIA. I am acting to protect it. Democracy is not a threat to the FIA; it is its strength.

The FIA has been summoned to an emergency hearing before the Paris courts on November 10. Photo: Race Pictures

“I will go to this mediation hearing with the same attitude I have maintained from the beginning, calm, openness, and determination. I hope it will finally lead to a sincere dialogue in the service of a FIA that is more modern, fair, and connected to its members."

Her lawyer, Me Robin Binsard (Paris Bar), highlighted the impact of the French Courts decision, saying: “We have obtained authorization for an hour-to-hour emergency summons, which demonstrates that the Court is taking seriously the serious democratic failings within the FIA, as well as several violations of its Statutes and Regulations that we have denounced.”

The FIA has since replied stating: "Due to the nature of the process, the FIA is unable to comment on this legal action and will not be able to provide further comment on this matter."

As it stands, Ben Sulayem is set to run unopposed

Should the rules remain unchanged, current incumbent FIA President, Ben Sulayem, will be the only name to appear on the electoral ballots come election day, as such another 4-year governance stint under the Emirati's leadership will follow.

Former candidate Mayer fiercely reacted to the quirk in the rules that forced him to stand down from his presidential bid saying: “When elections are decided before ballots are even cast, that's not democracy. That's theatre. When member clubs are left with no real choice, they become spectators, not participants.”

The FIA replied to the ex-Steward's claims stating: "The FIA Presidential election is a structured and democratic process, to ensure fairness and integrity at every stage.

"The requirements related to the regional representation of the Vice-Presidents for Sport, and to select them from the World Motor Sport Council in order to draw up a Presidential List, are not new.

"These criteria applied to previous elections. As to be expected, preparing a candidature for a Presidential List or the World Councils requires certain steps to be taken. Prospective candidates have had since the publication of the detailed information on 13 June to prepare their applications."

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