Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been re-elected as the president of the FIA, ensuring that he will serve a second term at the helm.
As had been announced last month, Ben Sulayem was unopposed during the presidential election, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
There had been three challengers, which included erstwhile FIA steward Tim Mayer, along with Laura Villars and Virginie Philippot.
However, the three opposition parties could not generate the support required as per the governing body’s election rules to stand.
The FIA mandates that all candidates must choose vice-presidents from six regions, but only one was approved in South America.
That was Fabiana Ecclestone, the wife of ex-Formula 1 supremo Bernie, who had repledged her support to Ben Sulayem in advance.
“A super majority of the FIA General Assembly has re-elected Mohammed Ben Sulayem as President of the FIA for a second four-year term, together with Malcolm Wilson OBE, Tim Shearman and Carmelo Sanz de Barros,” an FIA statement read.
“Members have also elected the new World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism and World Motor Sport Council, who will serve until the 2029 General Assembly elections.”
Whilst Ben Sulayem will likely remain at the helm for the duration of his second term, there is a degree of uncertainty that the result will stand.
This is due to Villars’ legal case disputing the fairness of the process in which willing contenders must validate their candidacy.
Villars was unable to halt the proceedings of the election, but was, via a Paris Judicial Court judge, given acknowledgement that the “irregularities raised regarding the presidential election must be examined.”
Villars’ legal team confirmed that it would continue its litigation, with a hearing scheduled for 16 February next year, held the same week as the final pre-season test for the new F1 season in Bahrain.
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