Paris (AFP) - Swiss racing driver Laura Villars filed legal action Wednesday against motorsport’s governing body to challenge FIA election rules, which she argues prevent her or any other candidate from running against incumbent president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The legal summons, seen by AFP, requests a Paris court “to order the suspension of the FIA presidential election until a ruling is made” over the dispute.

The election is due to take place in Uzbekistan on December 12 and a court hearing has been set for November 10.

“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,” the organisation told AFP.

Election regulations require candidates to appoint vice-presidents from each of the six global regions, chosen from a list approved by the FIA.

But there is only one person listed from South America, Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone – the wife of ex-Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone. She has already agreed to be part of Ben Sulayem’s team.

“Under these conditions, no competing list could include a vice-president for South America among its seven vice-presidents, as that region is already represented on the outgoing president’s list,” the emergency filing stated.

The deadline for submitting candidacies was October 24.

“The FIA presidential election is a structured and democratic process, to ensure fairness and integrity at every stage,” said an FIA spokesperson.

“The requirements related to the regional representation of the vice-presidents… are not new. These criteria applied to previous elections.”

In a statement sent to AFP, Villars said she “tried twice to initiate a constructive dialogue with the FIA on key issues such as internal democracy and transparency of electoral rules.

“The responses I received did not meet the stakes. I am not acting against the FIA, I am acting to preserve it. Democracy is not a threat to the FIA, it is its strength.”

Based in Paris, the FIA is responsible for organising the F1 and rally world championships, as well as promoting road safety. It has more than 240 clubs across 146 countries, representing around 80 million members.

“We obtained authorisation to file an emergency summons,” said Villars’s lawyer, Robin Binsard, “which shows that the judiciary is taking seriously the serious democratic shortcomings within the FIA, as well as various violations of the statutes and regulations that we are denouncing.”

- ‘Illusion of democracy’ -

The issue of being unable to stand in the election was raised earlier this month at the United States Grand Prix in Austin by American Tim Mayer, the son of former McLaren team chief Teddy Mayer, who also wanted to run for president.

“There will be only one candidate, the incumbent,” Mayer said. “That’s not democracy – that’s the illusion of democracy.”

The 28-year-old Villars told AFP recently in an interview she wanted “to bring new energy” to the organisation and was hoping to become the first woman president of the FIA, which was founded in 1904.

Belgian influencer Virginie Philippot was the other of four potential candidates.

A former rally driver, Ben Sulayem succeeded Frenchman Jean Todt as FIA president at the end of 2021. His time at the helm of motorsport has been dogged by controversy.

The 63-year-old Emirati was taken to task by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for using stereotypical language when discussing the use of foul outbursts by drivers on team radios.

Drivers fell out with the FIA over its crackdown on swearing. The guidelines were strengthened in January, triggering an indignant response from drivers.

Controversial fines were later reduced after a backlash from the grid.

In April, the FIA’s deputy president Robert Reid resigned with a damning parting shot at Ben Sulayem, criticising his governance and a lack of transparency.