Laura Villars has officially entered the race for the FIA presidency, presenting a bold and forward-thinking proposal that could reshape the future of motorsport. Among her most revolutionary ideas is the creation of an academy designed to make racing accessible to anyone with genuine talent, regardless of financial means. The initiative would remove wealth as a determining factor in a driver’s career, focusing instead on pure ability and dedication.
The Swiss racing driver is making history as the first woman ever to run for the FIA’s top position. Her lifelong passion for motorsport and desire to bring meaningful change have been the driving forces behind her candidacy. Villars’ campaign focuses on two key pillars: greater transparency within the FIA and a stronger emphasis on supporting the next generation of drivers and engineers.
A radical proposal
In a recent interview on the ‘Selezione Nazionale Piloti’ channel, Laura Villars outlined her vision for the FIA and discussed the main areas she intends to reform if elected. She identified two fundamental aspects the Federation should address: the sporting dimension and the mobility sector. Regarding mobility, Villars emphasized her commitment to increasing efforts in road safety and sustainable transport development.
However, it is on the sporting side that her most innovative idea takes shape—one that could completely change the way young talents approach motorsport. “For me, it would be important to have an academy that helps young drivers who don’t have the financial means to continue,” she explained. This initiative would allow gifted young racers to progress through the ranks without being stopped by prohibitively high costs, a problem that has long plagued the sport at its junior levels.
Laura Villars continued by recalling her personal experience in the paddock: “During my career, I saw Formula 4 drivers who couldn’t move up to the next category because they had no sponsors left. For me, creating this academy would be incredibly important—both for men and women.” Her goal is to ensure that motorsport becomes a merit-based field where talent and dedication outweigh financial backing or family wealth.
If implemented, Laura Villars’ proposal would mark a turning point in the FIA’s approach to developing future talent. The introduction of an FIA-managed academy could level the playing field, offering opportunities based purely on skill rather than resources. This would represent a significant step toward democratizing access to the sport and nurturing a more diverse and inclusive generation of drivers.
Even reigning Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has highlighted in the past that many extraordinary drivers never get the chance to prove themselves simply because they lack financial support or sponsorship. The creation of such an academy under FIA supervision could finally provide a solution to this long-standing issue—placing talent back at the heart of motorsport’s development pathway.
With her candidacy, Laura Villars positions herself not only as a potential leader but as a reformer determined to restore fairness, transparency, and opportunity within the FIA. Her message resonates strongly at a time when many fans and insiders believe the sport needs structural changes to remain accessible and sustainable for the future. If elected, Villars’ vision could truly redefine the standards of how talent is discovered, supported, and developed in global motorsport.
Leave a Reply