FIA confirms Mohammed Ben Sulayem as only candidate for presidential election

The FIA has confirmed that incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem is the only candidate to appear on the ballot for next month’s presidential elections.

Ben Sulayem has faced three challenges since July, from former FIA steward Tim Mayer, racing driver and entrepreneur Laura Villas, and journalist and former reality TV star Virginie Philippot.

But, due to the sport’s governing body‘s rules on securing sufficient support in order to stand, all three have appeared to have failed to mount a challenge to get their names on the ballot.

Villars is currently awaiting the verdict of a hearing in the Judicial Court of Paris, which she successfully won to have her complaints against the FIA’s processes heard.

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The verdict is set for December 3, and the outcome may determine whether the election will be postponed, but is currently scheduled to take place on December 12 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Requirements of making the ballot involves a ‘presidential list’, which is made up by the president itself, and a further 10 people: the president of the senate, deputy president for automobile mobility and tourism, the deputy president for sport, and a further seven vice-presidents for sport.

An addtional requirement is the seven vice-presidents must come from the following regions: Europe [X2] North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, MENA (Middle East and North Africa), plus two from Europe.

As Mayer, Villars and Philippot have all been unable to secure this necessary support, the trio ultimately were unsuccessful.

Ben Sulayem’s president list is as follows:

• Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE) – president of the FIA
• Carmelo Sanz De Barros (Spain) – president of the senate
• Timothy Shearman (Canada) – deputy president for automobile mobility and tourism
• Malcolm Wilson (UK) – deputy president for sport
• Abdulla al-Khalifa (Bahrain) – vice-president for sport (Middle East and North Africa)
• Rodrigo Rocha (Mozambique) – vice-president for sport (Africa)
• Daniel Coen (Costa Rica) – vice-president for sport (North America)
• Fabiana Ecclestone (Brazil) – vice-president for sport (South America)
• Lung-Nien Lee (Singapore) – vice-president for sport (Asia-Pacific)
• Manuel Aviñó (Spain) – vice-president for sport (Europe)
• Anna Nordkvist (Sweden) – vice-president for sport (Europe)

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