Belgian Virginie Philippot has announced her candidacy: “Motorsport must reflect a bold, diverse and united world.”
The race for the FIA presidency now has a new name: Virginie Philippot, 33, has officially announced her candidacy with a post on her Instagram profile. The Belgian thus becomes the fourth contender to lead the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, joining Tim Mayer, Laura Villars, and outgoing president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who will seek a second term.
With a speech focused on inclusivity and renewal, Philippot declared: “I am running for FIA president. Not to be the ‘first,’ but to make sure I am not the last. I believe motorsport must reflect the real world: bold, diverse, and united. As a woman with a global vision and deep roots, I am here to open doors that have remained closed for far too long. Let’s build a truly inclusive FIA for every voice, every story, every passion. The race to the future begins now.”
Virginie Philippot’s background is unusual and far from the traditional FIA leadership path. A former model, she competed in Miss Belgium 2012 and Miss International 2017, before founding the charity Drive For Hope, aimed at helping orphans in the Democratic Republic of Congo and promoting education in the country. A motorsport enthusiast for years, Philippot is also known to French television audiences for her participation in the sixth season of Secret Story on TF1.
The FIA presidential elections will take place on December 12, 2025, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and will grant a four-year mandate. Candidates must meet the requirements set out in the statutes: be under 70 years old, belong to an FIA club, and present a team consisting of a Senate president, eight vice presidents for the sporting sector, and eight for the automobile, mobility, and tourism sectors.
