FIA presidential candidate Laura Villars has been authorised by the Judicial Court of Paris to summon the FIA before an emergency judge.
In September, Villars announced her intention to run in the FIA presidential election, challenging incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The action to launch legal proceedings comes following “unsuccessful exchanges” between Villars and the FIA surrounding topics regarding “governance and representativeness”, according to the Swiss-French racing driver.
A release from Villars has highlighted the decision is “an important first step in a broader effort to safeguard transparency, ethics, and democratic pluralism within the FIA, as the presidential nomination process draws to a close”.
The hearing is scheduled for November 10, 2025, at 9:30 AM.
“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,” said Villars.
“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 court has also invited both parties to attend a conciliation meeting.
“I will go to this mediation hearing with the same attitude I have maintained from the beginning — calm, openness, and determination,” Villars added.
“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.”
The legal action also received support from the FIA Forward campaign, headed by Tim Mayer, who recently pulled out of the presidential election process.
In a statement, it said: “We applaud the action taken by Laura as an important step to implement the necessary reforms for democracy and transparency.
“We will be supporting her effort with all the considerable knowledge and experience of our team, ultimately in the interest of seeing an open election for the FIA Member Clubs.”
The FIA presidential election is due to take place on December 12 later this year.
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