Challenger expected to announce withdrawal on Friday
Ben Sulayem has been accused of concentrating power
Mohammed Ben Sulayem will stand unopposed for another term as the FIA president after it emerged the last remaining candidate who was preparing to run against motor sport’s divisive global leader will not be mounting a challenge due an arcane election rule.
Tim Mayer, a former FIA senior steward with 15 years in the role until he was sacked last November, was one of three candidates who had announced they would oppose Ben Sulayem, alongside the former racing driver Laura Villars and the Belgian journalist Virginie Philpott.
None of them, however, are able to meet the FIA requirements for the election process. Mayer is expected to formally announce the end of his campaign in Austin on Friday , the Guardian understands, where he will make clear the reasons behind it and his assessment of the current electoral process.
