Todt confirms plans to seek FIA presidency
July 16, 2009 by SJ Skid
Filed under People & Events
Former Ferrari head Jean Todt today is confirming his plans to seek the presidency of the FIA, Autosport is reporting.
Coming just 24 hours after current president Max Mosley threw his support behind his buddy for the post, it almost seems the two are coordinating their moves, doesn’t it?
Todt had a lengthy statement:
“Following the decision of Max Mosley not to seek a further term of office and his unequivocal support of my candidacy, I have written to the FIA membership to inform them that I wish to stand for the presidency of the FIA.
“It is my intention to continue and expand the outstanding work of President Mosley, who for 16 years has worked tirelessly to strengthen the FIA’s major motorsport championships and to position the FIA as the voice of the motoring public, actively promoting safe, clean and affordable mobility for all.
“Given the unique structure of the FIA and its twin roles in sport and mobility it takes more than a president to run the organisation and I am delighted to announce my leadership team.
“For the position of deputy president for mobility I would propose Brian Gibbons, chief executive of the New Zealand Automobile Association; for deputy president for sport I would propose, Graham Stoker, chairman of the Council of the UK’s Motor Sports Association; and for president of the Senate I would propose Nick Craw, president of ACCUS and the current FIA deputy president (sport).
“I am confident that together we will offer the FIA the opportunity to elect a dynamic leadership team of outstanding experience and commitment. “
Todt, of course, is not the first to announce his intentions to follow Mosley, who is set to step down in the Fall as part of the deal that is keeping the FIA and FOTA together.
Former world rally champion Ari Vatanen announced his plans to seek the post last week.
Todt’s not-unexpected decision sets up an interesting race for this critically important position. Given Max’s backing, Todt has to be the presumptive favorite as he would be expected to earn the votes of the many smaller auto clubs that continue to support Max. But Vatanen is an experienced politician himself, so the campaign should be an interesting one and, at the least, will give us all plenty to talk about as the on-track action wanes.
Perhaps a major player in this will be FOTA. McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh already has touted Vatanen’s potential. Will other teams follow? And, perhaps the biggest question of all: Who will Ferrari back, even if it is just behind closed doors in FOTA meetings?
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