Tim Mayer’s campaign to become the next FIA president is picking up steam. Since announcing his candidacy at the British Grand Prix earlier this month, Mayer believes the response has been so positive because it’s “refreshing for people to hear the truth.”
The charismatic 59-year-old American, who hopes to unseat current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in this year’s election, was on hand in São Paulo for the FIA WEC’s six-hour race as part of his campaign tour.
It’s a push for power that he feels is justified because “there is a hunger for change,” following what he described to RACER’s Chris Medland as “the biggest power grab in the history of the FIA— all about the centralisation of power into one office.”
Speaking with DSC in Brazil, Mayer explained that his vision for the future of the FIA, along with the more transparent leadership style he pledges to adopt, is turning heads.
“It’s more than me just being truthful, that’s given us a boost — it’s because someone has come out with genuine ideas on how to run things,” he said. “It’s not just about what we can give to the smaller clubs, which is incredibly important — it’s also about what we can do to run a trusted federation. We’ve got genuine ideas behind that.
“I’m perfectly happy to sit, stand and answer questions — not disingenuously, or give an illusion of an answer.”
It’s more than me just being truthful, that’s given us a boost — it’s because someone has come out with genuine ideas on how to run things
Mayer was relieved of his previous position as an FIA steward back in November — via a text message, which DSC has seen. It was a controversial moment that caused a ripple effect, ultimately leading to the current scenario: a face-off between two key figures at the top of motorsport, each with robust visions for the future.
After that short text dropped into his inbox, Mayer did a lot of reflecting. This wasn’t a knee-jerk decision. Following a number of key conversations over several months, he concluded that his experience in the sport — in roles such as IMSA’s COO, FIA international steward, and senior vice president of racing at CART — would suit the role of FIA president.
“Many people are concerned with the way the FIA is being run, but it hadn’t occurred to me to run as FIA president until recently,” he explained. “Mohammed said I had a conflict of interest, even though I had been a U.S. Grand Prix organiser and a steward for 14 years. Ultimately, he took exception to some things in the appeals document from a steward’s decision there — but it’s nonsense because he knows I didn’t write it, and it didn’t come out publicly.
“I was clearly upset to be fired by text message. I’m bemused they say that wasn’t the case — but I can show it to people. It was a 15-year career that came down to a paragraph. It made me sit and think about what I enjoyed through my volunteering with the FIA for 100 days (per year) over 15 years. I had a lot of fun along the way, and ultimately, it was all about the ability to give back and serve. I am passionate about service and leadership, and I’ve tried to demonstrate that throughout my career.
“So it just clicked that it was a possibility. I asked people who have real influence what they thought, and they said I should — because it’s a desperate situation that needs remedying.”
Running for FIA president — let alone the day-to-day nature of the job itself — is a monumental task and requires significant financial backing. After consulting his wife, Mayer had quiet conversations with potential donors and raised what he describes as “millions” to get his bid off the ground.
“It was hard. How do you raise that money privately without it becoming public knowledge that you’re doing it? I’ve raised sponsorship dollars before, but raising them for a political campaign is a different kettle of fish.”
There’s no guarantee Mayer’s bid will be successful. His opponent brings numerous allies to the table and almost four years of experience in the role. But Mayer fully believes that winning the election is possible and stresses that his bid is serious — one that he hopes will lead to positive change in how the FIA operates.
“You know, there’s going to be a group of clubs that are for Mohammed, no matter what,” Mayer pointed out. “I respect their opinion. I would like to persuade them that there is a better way.
“And then there are a number of clubs that are against Mohammed, no matter what. They see the lack of transparency when he said that’s what he’d deliver. They see the erosion of good governance, when he said that’s what he’d deliver. They see the gagging of elected representatives of the FIA and the world councils, when he said those bodies were going to work for the people.
“They see that, and they’re 100% against him. I don’t need to speak in an echo chamber to that group. It’s the people in the middle that maybe perceive they are getting something from Mohammed. Those are the clubs we need to address and earn their vote.
“Certainly, what he’s done is recognise that the member clubs, especially those in underserved regions, need support. And that’s good. But he hasn’t delivered on the other parts of his promises.”
Mayer’s schedule is packed until the end of the year. It’s important, he says, to show face at key events like the FIA WEC’s visit to Brazil because of the relationships he wants to maintain and build — relationships that could be vital if he’s elected.
“We’ve got manufacturers, broadcasters, sponsors and teams that invest huge amounts into our sport,” he said. “It’s important to demonstrate to them that we are taking this seriously and that we are going to be good partners.
“In terms of sportscars, it’s a passion of mine, and we want to come to these events and listen, so the ACO and IMSA can develop long-term plans. We’re not going to be the group to pull the pin on a hand grenade, throw it into the room, and walk out.
“We’re going to go in, we’re going to listen and ask: What should the engines look like? What should the cars look like? What’s most relevant to you as manufacturers and OEMs? What’s most relevant to our tyre partners? What works in that area?
“These are the conversations that I’m here to show are important to me. They are desperately important to the sport.
We’re not going to be the group to pull the pin on a hand grenade, throw it into the room, and walk out
“My experience in IMSA taught me that the best ideas we implemented were the ones that came from the fans, from the most junior members of teams. It’s up to us to provide resources and nurture those ideas. That’s my method of working.
“And I know this is about more than just sport. It’s road safety, road user access for people around the world. That’s the broader legacy of the FIA. My journey to candidacy has been about service and giving back — it’s my passion. I want to give back to a community that’s given me so much.”
“Nobody in the F1 or WEC paddocks has a vote; it comes down to the 245 electors — the member clubs around the world. So, the job now is to take the enthusiasm we generated from the announcement, explain our ideas to the clubs, and earn their votes.”
The presidential election for the FIA is set to take place during the FIA General Assemblies on December 12th.
Image courtesy of FIA Forward & DPPI
