Jean Todt candidate for re-election as head of the FIA

Jean Todt, current President of the FIA, revealed in Monza that he intends to run for another term as the head of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. The Frenchman, who succeeded Max Mosley in 2009, will face at least one rival, David Ward.

« There is no speculation: I am going to go. Yesterday, the start of the election campaigns began. Our whole community knows it and I have a lot of support, » Todt stated, as quoted by Reuters in Monza.

The Frenchman can notably count on the support of several team principals and on Gerhard Berger who told Reuters that Todt wants to commit for the long haul: “I’d be surprised if Jean doesn’t stay in this role for the long term. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t run and succeed.”

Jean Todt can also count on the support of his former partner at Ferrari, Ross Brawn: « I obviously know Jean very well, having worked with him for 10 years. I believe that stability and consistency are very important… I think that the opportunity for him to serve a new term as President of the FIA is important, so that we have this continuity. »

Martin Whitmarsh has also expressed satisfaction with the work done by Jean Todt over the last four years, and he believes that a new term for the Frenchman would be a good thing: « I must say that I think he has not used this sport for his own ego… I think Jean has served the interests of motorsport very well. I think for some people, there hasn’t been enough excitement, action, which are interesting things for people. But I think for us who participate in this sport, having a certain consistency—someone who makes decisions that are in the interest of the sport in a calm and effective manner—is very beneficial. We [the teams] will not influence the outcome, but I think Jean has done a very good job so far, and we will see if he succeeds in continuing to be President. »

Christian Horner also expressed his satisfaction with the work of the Frenchman: “I think Jean did a very good job.”

In 2009, Todt won against Ari Vatanen – a competitor much more well-known than David Ward is, and the Frenchman intends to take advantage of his numerous supporters to remain at the head of the FIA for another four years. Stay tuned in early December to find out the name of the future President of the FIA.