Zoom FIA President Mosley openly supporting a candidate

Max Mosley on Wednesday vowed to step down as FIA President in October, recommending Jean Todt to succeed him.

In a letter to FIA member clubs, the 69-year-old Briton said he has actually received 100 messages urging him to stay put.

But with a new Concorde Agreement nigh, and also for personal reasons, Mosley said he has decided not to contest the elections later this year.

"Extremely grateful though I am for all the letters, emails and messages I have received, I have decided to reconfirm my decision. I will not be a candidate in October," he declared.

He said former Ferrari boss Todt is the "right person" to succeed him, despite Ari Vatanen's announcement last weekend that he intends to stand.

"I must emphasise he (Todt) would not in any way be a motor industry candidate," Mosley wrote, insisting the 62-year-old Frenchman also "would have no special relationship" with his former employers.

"If he agrees to stand, I think he would be the ideal person to continue but also to extend the work of the past 16 years. He can be relied on in all areas where the FIA is active. I very much hope you will give him your support," Mosley requested.

Teams take no part in the election process itself, however it is not a surprise that the controversial Todt is not the preferred candidate in some paddock spaces.

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh said at the Nurburgring last weekend that 1981 World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen would be a "quite good" candidate.

"If Max is not standing and Ari is a candidate, I am sure he will get a lot of support as he seems to be a balanced and sensible individual," he said.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM