Jean Todt has said he wants to "give something back" to motorsport should he be elected as president of the FIA.
Former Ferrari boss promises "team-work and co-operation"
Jean Todt has said he wants to "give something back" to motorsport should he be elected as president of the FIA.
The former Ferrari team principal confirmed on Thursday he is to stand for the election on October 23, Todt having been named by outgoing president Max Mosley as his preferred successor.
He faces a straight fight with former World Rally champion Ari Vatanen to head world motorsport's governing body, which also promotes the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users globally.
Setting out his manifesto in a letter to the FIA member clubs, Todt intends "to offer continuity, but also to encourage change to meet the new challenges facing the sport and motoring in the years ahead".
He wants the FIA to encourage a new era of global mobility and motor sport and, if elected, will promote three major themes: affordability and competition; innovation and excellence; team-work and co-operation.
Distinguished career
Like his rival for the job, Todt had a distinguished career in rallying, the 63-year-old Frenchman a co-driver for Peugeot before going on to work in management for the team.
Indeed, the pair worked together in 1984 and 1985 when Vatanen drove for Peugeot prior to a serious accident on the 1985 Rally Argentina.
Over the years Todt has also worked for BMW, FIAT, Ford, Maserati, Matra, Mercedes, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, and most notably Ferrari.
His teams have won four world rally titles, two Le Mans 24 hours victories, one world sports car championship, four victories in the Paris-Dakar, 13 Formula One world titles and 98 grands prix.
Todt remarked: "I have been very fortunate in my career to have enjoyed considerable success in motor sport and benefit from the hard work of previous leaders of the FIA in creating a global platform on which to compete.
"I feel that for me the time is now right to give something back to the sport and the FIA's clubs that have given me so much.
"I would also like to assist my colleagues from the mobility clubs in their important work representing the motoring public.
"For these reasons I am enthusiastic and excited to serve as president of the FIA."
