JULY 11, 2009

Vatanen confirms FIA presidential bid

Ari Vatanen has confirmed that he will be putting name forward for the election to become FIA President in October. The Finn, who won the World Rally Championship in 1981, says that the federation needs new management and says that if he wins there will be some major restructuring of the FIA.

Vatanen is understood to have landed support from several of the biggest FIA clubs, notably America's AAA and Germany's ADAC. It is thought that he has much of the support from the clubs that voted against current incumbent Max Mosley last summer when he faced a confidence vote after his spanking scandal.

It remains to be seen whether Mosley will stand again. One amn who is keen that he does is Jean Todt, who is believed to be touring Africa at the moment tryng to drum up support for Mosley.