Social media influencer joins FIA presidential race – for some reason

In a move that has left more than a few eyebrows permanently arched, a Belgian social media influencer and former model by the name of Virginie Philippot has announced her candidacy for the presidency of the FIA.

The 33-year-old, who once graced beauty pageants and later dabbled in reality-TV shows, has tossed her glitter-dusted hat into the ring as the fourth contender for the FIA presidency.

Announced via a breezy Instagram post ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Philippot’s entry turns what was already a quirky election into a full-blown sideshow.

With zero racing credentials beyond trackside selfies and a stint hosting for Red Bull, one can't help but wonder if the Belgian’s endeavor is just the ultimate content drop for her 20,000-plus followers, rather than a bold power-play.

Philippot’s announcement reads like a motivational poster come to life.

“I’m running for the presidency of the FIA,” she told her fans. “Not to be the ‘first’ but to make sure l’m not the last.

“I believe motorsport should reflect the real world, bold, diverse, and united. As a woman with a global vision and deep roots, I’m here to open doors that have stayed closed for too long.

“Let’s build a FIA that’s truly inclusive for every voice, every story, every passion. The race for the future starts now.”

The FIA’s Field of Four Candidates

The FIA's presidential race, set for December 12 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was shaping up as a gritty match between incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem – seeking a second term after steering the sport through controversies like gender row firings and sprint race squabbles – and American challenger Tim Mayer.

The ex-steward, who branded Ben Sulayem's reign a "tyranny" during his British Grand Prix launch, has been a fixture at Grands Prix, schmoozing delegates like a man handing out free tyre warmers.

Then came Swiss sports car driver Laura Villars, announcing her "new vision" and "big team" just before the Azerbaijan GP, positioning herself as the first woman in the fray with promises of transparency and sustainability.

Enter Philippot, stage left, via social media scroll. The Brussels-born influencer, who once sashayed through the Miss Belgium 2012 pageant and the 2017 Miss International contest, has parlayed her modeling gigs into a scattershot media career.

She's popped up on French reality TV like Secret Story and Belgium's The Traitors, and she has apparently dabbled in motorsport as a journalist and Red Bull host, chronicling F1 and WEC events on Instagram with the enthusiasm of a fan in the hospitality suite.

Oh, and there's her NGO, Drive For Hope, aiding orphans in the Democratic Republic of Congo –admirable, sure, but does it qualify her to govern karting regulations or rally homologation?

Outsider or Oddity?

In a sport where presidents need to wrangle 147 member clubs, navigate billion-dollar TV deals, and appease everyone from Monaco's elite to mud-splattered rally crews, Philippot's pitch feels like suggesting a TikTok dance-off to settle the next F1 engine freeze debate.

Her bid isn't just unexpected – it's a head-scratcher that raises more questions than answers. Sure, diversity is the buzzword du jour, and as the second woman in the race, she's waving the flag for inclusivity harder than a marshal with a checkered one.

But in an election requiring candidates to assemble a full slate – Senate President, Vice Presidents for Sport and Mobility, the works – her network seems as thin as a front-wing endplate.

In a sport where off-track drama often rivals on-track overtakes, Philippot’s entry adds a dash of absurdity to the mix.

• Read also: Swiss female racer shakes up FIA Presidency race with historic bid

Will delegates buy her vision of a "fairer" FIA, or will they speed past like a backmarker in the mirrors?

As the Singapore lights flicker on this weekend, one thing's clear: in the race for motorsport's top job, Philippot's lapping the field in sheer audacity – if not horsepower.

Then again, she might just be remembered as the candidate who brought stilettos to a paddock fight.

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