In his spare time,
Francois Fillon is an enthusiastic motorsport fan. He often gets behind the steering wheel of a fast car himself and drives a few laps at the track in LeMans, his hometown and host to the famous
24-hour race. Until now, he hasn't been seen in the political fast lane.
For a long time,
Fillon was active in the second tier of
French politics. He was hard-working and loyal but never stood in the spotlight. His career somehow resembled that of a failed heir to a throne. But then, suddenly, in the first round of the conservative primary on
November 20, he surprisingly overtook the assumed favorites
Alain Juppe and
Nicolas Sarkozy. Now Fillon suddenly has a chance to defeat Juppe and step up to the winner's podium.