Laura Villars: What is so important about her run for FIA presidency?

As we approach the election for Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile president in December, Laura Villars rocked the motorsports world by announcing her intention to run for the prestigious role, making her not only the youngest person to ever run, but also the first woman to do so in the organisations long history. In her bid for the presidency, Villars will take on current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Tim Mayer, an established motorsport official. 

The FIA has stated that Villars is yet to have formally declared her intent to run, as official nominations will open on 3 October. She will then have until 24 October to submit her candidacy application and her would-be team. 

So, who is Laura Villars, and why is her proposed campaign such a groundbreaking move? 

Racing Driver. Businesswoman. 

Villars is a Swiss-French racing driver and entrepreneur with a background in business management and real estate. Born in August 1997, she will be running for FIA presidency at just 28 years old. 

Her passion for motorsport began when she was 14, and she quickly started out in karting as her love for the sport grew. Since then, she has competed in several single-seater series including Formula 4 UAE and Formula 4 Saudi Arabia, before shifting her focus to the Ultimate Cup Series, where she went on to secure a fifth place finish in 2023. 

Villars for the Ferrari Challenge. Photo Credit: Ferrari Media Centre

Villars has also competed in Ferrari Challenge Europe, a GT category where drivers compete in identical cars, and ultimately gave Villars her visibility. Despite solid results, Villars is yet to take a win or a podium position, and has spent most of her career in the midfield. 

What is so important about her candidacy? 

Not only will Villars be the youngest person to run for the position of FIA president, she is also the only woman to do so since the organisation was established in 1904.

In the press release for Villars’ announcement, she said: “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.”

Despite being a male dominated organisation, other women have risen through the ranks in the FIA, such as Claire Dubbelman, who recently became the first woman and youngest ever person to obtain the FIA race director superlicense. The organisation launched the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission in 2009, committed to boosting women and girls in karting, and beyond, and their FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission is headed by Nathalie McGloin. 

We have seen the misogynistic rhetoric surrounding high-profile women in the world of motorsport, especially those in leadership roles. When it was rumoured that Susie Wolff, Director of F1 Academy, was considering a run for FIA presidency, she was hit with concerns over her marriage to Toto Wolff, CEO and Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, despite being a proven leader and established figure within the sport. Villars has not been an exception to this kind of scrutiny, with critics already questioning the integrity of her campaign simply because of her social media presence. Villars fired back, arguing that holiday photos do not impact her capabilities. Questions have also been raised due to her lack of racing success, with critics failing to consider that she has competed in countries where it is even harder than usual for women to race, and her understanding of the complexities and nuances of motorsport. 

What’s in her manifesto? 

Several of the main objectives of Villars’ manifesto were outlined in her announcement, and range from topics regarding women's inclusion, to sustainability in motorsports. One of the biggest points is her dedication to streamlining decision making, and she has said that she wants to push for more democracy and transparency within the FIA. 

Villars also wants to push for more inclusion for young racers as well, suggesting the implementation of a Young Leaders Academy that would give a voice to the upcoming generations of competitors. This goes hand in hand with her vow to provide more visibility for existing initiatives such as Girls on Track, an organisation run by the FIA and Motorsport UK to inspire the next generation of female racing drivers. 

In terms of sustainability, she wants to introduce a system called ‘FIA Eco Performance’, which would credit teams for their efforts surrounding the environment and push towards active initiatives, such as F1 becoming carbon neutral by 2030. On a broader note, Villars wants to expand the FIA’s role beyond motorsport into automotive innovation, with a focus on implementing safer infrastructure worldwide. 

While Villars may not be successful in this election, due to both her late run and her lack of establishment compared to her rivals, her decision to do so proves that there is more opportunity and space available to women in the industry. Even if she doesn’t go on to win, her candidacy alone has already been enough to create waves and prove that women are just as capable and serious in their leadership, no matter the challenges they face, and what people may think.