Jean Todt: “Rethinking the way we run”

Like other sectors of society and the global economy, motorsport is bearing the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic and the containment and restriction measures put in place by various governments.

If the urgency is to find a way to restart the machine to allow the championships and the players to compete in the 2020 season, the question of the economic situation will inevitably arise in the days and weeks to come.

To Jean Todt, president of the FIA, the international federation stands ready to respond to this challenge. “I don’t think the current priority for a manufacturer is to secure continuity in competition, indicates the Frenchman in the latest issue of AUTO.

I am sure that several teams, suppliers and manufacturers will have to review their programs. They might be forced to stop. I hope the team owners and sponsors will keep the motivation […] This is why we should listen to everyone. We must be humble.

Even if we love motorsport, it is not essential for our society. We must therefore ensure that we make the right choices and make wise decisions. »

The former director of Peugeot Sport and Team Ferrari suggests taking a global view and making strong decisions. “In fact, what is necessary, it's about rethinking the way we run, specifies Jean Todt.

We can potentially talk about a “New Deal” approach like America had after the Great Depression. »

Promoters have already made several decisions to try to reduce costs, including postponements of regulations as in F1. According to Graham Stoker, deputy president for sport at the FIA, the recovery could go through the base of the motorsport pyramid.

“Grassroots motorsport has always been the cornerstone of competition and we must reconnect with this, while demonstrating that sport has an important place in modern society, analyzes the person responsible, still in AUTO.

I think it will be vital to restore a sense of normality before we start trying to use money from sponsors and the like. If you look at the history of motorsport, there are lessons to be learned.

Compared to what happened after the World Wars, the re-emergence of motorsport was driven by a popular desire to compete and I think that might still be the case.

In this regard, our ASNs are extremely important. I am determined to do everything we can to help these ASNs through this difficult time. »