French motorsport is entering a new chapter as Pierre Ragues was elected president of the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, following a closely contested vote that highlighted deep divisions within the organization.
The election took place during an elective assembly held at the Maison de l’Artisanat in Paris, where Ragues defeated his rival Pierre Gosselin by a margin of 377 votes, securing 1,817 votes to Gosselin’s 1,440. The outcome reflected a split decision between the two electoral colleges that make up the FFSA’s voting body, with each representing 50% of the total vote.
According to verified results from the assembly, Ragues received strong support from the Ligue du Sport Automobile college, earning 1,321 votes compared to Gosselin’s 444 in that segment. Still, he trailed significantly in the Associations sportives college, where Gosselin led with 996 votes to Ragues’ 496.
The FFSA confirmed that the assembly was convened to elect members of the Comité Directeur, the federation’s governing board, along with the president, secretary general, and treasurer. The ballot required candidates to run on slates that adhered to gender parity rules, ensuring equal representation of men and women across all elected positions.
Alongside Ragues, the newly elected Comité Directeur includes Pascal Peronnet as secretary general, Jean-Marc Roger as treasurer, and a slate of 14 other members: Stéphanie Dazy (medical officer), Daniel Baldassari, Laurianne Barthelemy, Marie Bondurand, Olivier Bonnetain, Séverine Cancelli, Nathalie Chantagrel, Robert Corvo, Michael Desmont, Marie-Line Eyermann, Gilbert Horala, Clément Hugon, Carole Jacques, Simon Jean-Joseph, Virginie Lenglina, Stéphanie Potonnier, Martine Raynaud, and Jean-Luc Roger.
Ragues, a 42-year-old former endurance racer born in Caen on January 10, 1984, brings a distinguished career in motorsport to the presidency. He has competed in twelve editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, achieving two podium finishes in the LMP2 category. His racing background spans karting, where he won the 24 Hours of Mans karting event in 2005, and progression through formula ranks before establishing himself as a consistent presence in endurance racing.
In his first statement as president, Ragues acknowledged the weight of the responsibility, saying: “It’s with great pride and responsibility that I embark on this new mission at the head of the French Motorsport Federation. I wish to bring together all the actors of our sport around a unifying project, combining respect for our heritage and the will to renew, in order to make motorsport always more accessible, modern, and focused on its licensees.”
The election comes at a period of notable turbulence for the FFSA, with Gosselin’s campaign reportedly emphasizing continuity and experience, although Ragues positioned himself as a candidate for change and modernization. The narrow vote in the Associations sportives college suggests ongoing resistance to his vision among grassroots clubs, even as league representatives backed his platform decisively.
Ragues’ mandate will run through the remainder of the current olympic cycle, with the Comité Directeur serving until 2028. His leadership will be tested immediately as he seeks to reconcile the divided electorate and deliver on promises to modernize governance, increase accessibility, and strengthen the federation’s connection to its licensed participants across disciplines ranging from karting to rallying and circuit racing.
As the governing body for all forms of motorsport in France, the FFSA oversees licensing, regulation, and development of the sport nationwide. The federation sanctions events across all levels, from club competitions to international rounds hosted in France, and represents French interests in global motorsport forums through its affiliation with the FIA.
The outcome of this election will shape the direction of French motorsport for the next two years, particularly as the country prepares to host major events and continues to develop young talent through its national driver academies and grassroots programs.
For now, the focus shifts to implementation, as Ragues and his newly elected team begin the work of translating campaign promises into policy, with the first test being their ability to unite a federation that just expressed deeply contrasting visions for its future.
Stay tuned to Archysport for updates on how this leadership change influences policy decisions, upcoming events, and the broader trajectory of motorsport in France.
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