Vatanen: “Very disappointing”

Ari Vatanen, who positioned himself as a candidate for change, is bitter after the election of Jean Todt as president of the FIA, which he sees as an institution resistant to change.

Published on 23/10/2009 à 17:47

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Ari Vatanen, the first candidate to declare himself to succeed Mas Mosley at the head of the FIA, is bitter following the vote which saw the victory of Jean Todt, by 135 votes to 49, for the presidency of the FIA. The Finn appears very disappointed by the turn of events.

« When people tell you three times “I share the same democratic values as you”, that they look you in the eye while saying it and then they vote differently, it's very disappointing, not for me, but for democracy », Commented the world rally champion to AFP.

Ari Vatanen, who filed an appeal due to the lack of integrity of the FIA before retracting, recognizes that the force of change is difficult to establish within a body such as the FIA. “Ihe congratulates Jean, but the FIA is something else », added the Finn, estimating that “ the weight of the regime is such that if it has to continue with the same staff, it will have difficulty revolutionizing the culture » of the FIA.

Furthermore, the unsuccessful candidate admitted that he was “ very very difficult to change the culture of the FIA ". However, the former Member of the European Parliament says “ very philosophical » and thinks of bouncing elsewhere, looking for “ something else interesting to do ».