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[7UpJordan]

The Spaniard has already put on the record his fears about Todt's previous alliances with Ferrari and Peugeot.

He does rightly so, just like the rest of us. And Todt also will only communicate by the phone were as Ari is taking the time to meet the Spaniard in person.

This should be an easy choice. Let's hope the people who vote see things this way.

Their track record on voting isnt brilliant

That's exactly what I was thinking, especially as we all believe Mosley bought those vital votes that kept him on last year after Whip-gate. He could do the same again to get his best friend in the world/puppet in place.

[myownalias]

It won't happen but maybe we should have a truly democratic process; have the teams involved in all sports the FIA oversees vote for president!

[Stealthgate007]

It won't happen but maybe we should have a truly democratic process; have the teams involved in all sports the FIA oversees vote for president!

To your point, we all have to consider also that the FIA is involved in other motorsports. It just feels like whenever we hear FIA, its associated with F1. However, I do believe the FIA auto club members spend more time batting about things related to F1 than any other mortorsports..

[headless]

What did Vatenen do previously?

[EwanM]

Vatanen continues Todt assault
Tuesday 21st July 2009
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954, ... 61,00.html

Ari Vatanen's aggressive campaign against Jean Todt has continued with the Finn accusing his rival of running a FIA-funded campaign.

Vatanen was in no way enamored with outgoing president Max Mosley's endorsement of Todt last week, and insists that the FIA needs a fresh face at its helm - something he believes Todt would not be.

"The big, big majority of people involved in the FIA are not happy with the current state of affairs," Vatanen told Italian website 422race.

"FIA is not in a very good health," he added.

The former World Rally Championship winner believes that the FIA "needs a total renovation" and that Todt is being favoured in the race for the FIA presidency.

"Jean goes with a private plane with his girlfriend, supposedly as a FIA representative, to various parts of the world," said the Finn.

"In fact, he is doing a campaign totally supported and paid of FIA."

While the FIA's club representatives of Spain and Germany have yet to endorse a candidate Vatanen is confident that he has the members support.

"I'm just back from Spain and both the big Spanish clubs are behind me, the ADAC club (of Germany) is behind me, as is the biggest club in the world, the (American) AAA, in the person of his president Bob Dalbernet."

The 59-year-old refused to criticise Max Mosley directly but suggested that not enough attention had been paid to the giants of the sport such as Ferrari as the FIA looked to implement budget cuts.

"Ferrari is the most successful business concept in the automotive world and we must learn from the best practice in life," said Vatanen.

"Had they gone to a parallel championship, it would have been a disaster, but it would have been because they were obliged to go.

"They did not want to go, because it would have been lot of work for them, but it was reasonable," he added.

Vatanen has come out in support of FOTA in te past, and while he admits he is sympathetic to the plight of the manufacturers alliance he insists he is no way a "puppet" of the organisation.

[McLaren Fan]

The war of words continues.

[EwanM]

FIA Foundation rebukes Vatanen

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77116

By Jonathan Noble Wednesday, July 22nd 2009, 09:03 GMT

Ari Vatanen has been criticised by the FIA Foundation for his misleading comments suggesting that Jean Todt's presidential campaign was being funded by the governing body.

Vatanen was widely quoted in the media this week suggesting that the FIA was paying for a private jet for Todt to help him on his campaign to win the presidency role later this year.

Those claims have been strongly rebutted by the FIA Foundation, which has written to Vatanen to express its disappointment about his comments.

In the letter (the full text of which can be read here), Carlos Macaya, Chairman, FIA Foundation, said: "These assertions are totally false. For the last two years Jean Todt's partner, the internationally acclaimed actress Michelle Yeoh, has served in a voluntary capacity as the global Ambassador for the Make Roads Safe campaign which is co-ordinated by the FIA Foundation.

"In this role Michelle has travelled all over the world to support the campaign especially in advance of this year's first ever global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety to be held in Moscow on November 19-20.

"A centrepiece of her involvement has been the production of a documentary film, Turning Point, which was broadcast worldwide in May on BBC World TV and also featured at the launch of the Commission for Global Road Safety's new report calling for a UN Decade of Action."

Macaya confirmed that Yeoh had been in Africa recently, and that Todt accompanied her on other business - which included a workshop for national sporting authorities paid for by the Motor Sport Safety Fund.

The letter added: "All these engagements are very helpful to the work of the Foundation and demonstrate the strong commitment of both Michelle and Jean to our work promoting road safety.

"These activities have nothing whatsoever to do with the FIA, or the recently announced election. It is very disappointing that you have chosen to misrepresent the work of a fellow Trustee in this way and belittle the magnificent contribution being made by Michelle Yeoh.

"I am also surprised that you do not seem to be aware of the truth of their involvement as their activities have been extensively reported to you at successive meetings of the Board of Trustees of the FIA Foundation of which you are a member.

"I appreciate that during the forthcoming election for the FIA Presidency there needs to be open and robust debate. However, I would ask that you do not again misrepresent the role of the FIA Foundation in this way."

[EwanM]

Todt hopes election maintains integrity

By Jonathan Noble Wednesday, July 22nd 2009, 11:21 GMT

Jean TodtJean Todt has said he hopes that the campaign for the FIA presidency can maintain its democratic integrity, in the wake of controversial comments by Ari Vatanen, currently his only rival in the election.

Vatanen spoke out this week suggesting that the FIA was funding and supporting Todt's campaign by flying him around the world.

Those comments have been strongly criticised by the FIA Foundation, an independent charity, which has written to Vatanen to express its disappointment about his stance and made it clear his claims were wrong.

The Foundation clarified that Todt had travelled recently to Africa accompanying his partner, the actress Michelle Yeoh, who had been speaking at a road safety conference in her role as the global ambassador for the Make Roads Safe campaign. This campaign is coordinated by the FIA Foundation, of which Todt is a trustee.

Although according to his campaign spokesman Todt is reluctant to become involved in the trading of negative soundbites, in the wake of Vatanen's remarks, he has made a short statement on the matter - saying he hopes that the election campaign does not turn personal and can focus on the real issues.

"We are three months away from the election of a new President of the FIA," said Todt on Wednesday. "This period gives the FIA membership an important opportunity before making their choice to reflect on the Federation's achievements, its future goals and challenges.

"I would hope that all candidates will conduct their campaigns with dignity and avoid personalising the issues or engaging in the spreading of disparaging or false allegations.

"I am very proud of the voluntary work Michelle Yeoh has done as the global ambassador for the Make Roads Safe campaign. To gain an accurate insight into Michelle's role I would encourage everyone to watch the film 'Turning Point' and see for themselves her contribution to improving global road safety.

"In future I hope everyone can stick to the issues and respect the integrity of this democratic process."

Yeoh's work on road safety has received widespread international support, and helped result in the documentary 'Turning Point' (which can be seen here http://www.makeroadssafe.org/Pages/home.aspx) that has received widespread coverage around the world.

* Columns which appeared in the features area on autosport.com and in AUTOSPORT magazine last week claimed that a private jet, paid for by the FIA, had taken Jean Todt and Michelle Yeoh to Africa for their recent engagements there.

AUTOSPORT accepts that these claims were untrue and that Jean Todt and his partner Michelle Yeoh travelled to Africa by scheduled airline and not at the FIA's expense. AUTOSPORT would like to apologise for any confusion caused by these reports.

[racechick]

"Jean TodtJean Todt has said he hopes that the campaign for the FIA presidency can maintain its democratic integrity."


Jean Todt /integrity=oxymoron!!

[EwanM]

Prost eyes FIA role alongside president Todt

23/07/09 11:09

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 0950.shtml



Retired quadruple world champion Alain Prost says he would consider playing a role if his countryman Jean Todt becomes the next FIA president.

He told sport365.com that he has already discussed the possibility with the former Ferrari boss, who will contest the October elections against the independent candidate Ari Vatanen.

"Ari Vatanen is a very good candidate, and Jean Todt is an excellent candidate," Prost said. "Jean's disadvantage is that the (F1) manufacturers are not very positive about his possible arrival. But there are also the automobile clubs to consider, the safety, the mobility, the environment ... in short, an enormous amount of work.”

Prost raised the prospect that "other candidates" may join Vatanen and Prost in pushing for Max Mosley's job, but categorically ruled out the possibility he might be among them.

"Moreover, if Jean is there, I would never put myself against him," he insisted.
Click here to find out more!


Prost did note, however, that he might be interested in a role that focused only on the FIA's sporting aspects.

"If there is something that perhaps I could justify, it would be on the matters of F1 and sport," he said. "We will have to see what is going to happen in two or three months."

Asked specifically if he could end up working alongside FIA president Todt, Prost answered: "Perhaps. It is something we have already spoken about but it cannot be decided today."

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[McLaren Fan]

It would be a good thing for Prost to be involved with the FIA - in fact, I wanted him to stand as a candidate - so he should become involved if at all possible regardless of whether Todt of Vatanen become president.

[headless]

It would be a good thing for Prost to be involved with the FIA - in fact, I wanted him to stand as a candidate - so he should become involved if at all possible regardless of whether Todt of Vatanen become president.

But he is French?

[pilotfriend]

He is indeed French, as indeed I am. What is wrong with that?

[EwanM]

Political minefield headless!

[headless]

Hahah, I didn't mean to ask if he is French, I knew that I got words wrong way round.
Someone said earlier in the topic I think that a froggie leader would be bad??