Ari Vatanen files a lawsuit against the FIA

Ari Vatanen has asked the Paris High Court to impose measures on the FIA to ensure that next week’s presidential election is fair and transparent.

In the midst of growing tensions between the governing bodies of motorsport and Ari Vatanen regarding the upcoming vote, the FIA released a statement last Friday claiming that the former rally world champion had brought unjustified negative publicity and asserting that the recent measures taken in view of the federation are effectively useless.

The Board of Directors argued that the checks and balances already in place were more than sufficient to ensure that the upcoming vote could take place without the slightest doubt about the democratic integrity of the election.

Mr Ari Vatanen, one of the candidates for the presidency of the FIA, filed a request today with the Paris High Court, asking the Court to impose a number of measures for the FIA election, the FIA statement said.

« If Mr. Vatanen has difficulty examining the procedures in place, he should understand that those already in place have more safeguards than those he is asking the Court to impose. »

The FIA is thus at a loss to explain the purpose of this legal action, if it is not simply to generate more negative publicity in an attempt to raise doubts about the honesty of FIA personnel. This is despite the fact that a large team of FIA staff has worked tirelessly in recent months to ensure that the new president of the FIA will be elected with dignity and democratically.

The FIA has called upon a bailiff to oversee the electoral process and vote counting. On October 15th, the FIA distributed a note to all voting members detailing the electoral process that will be implemented and the role the Bailiff will play. It is available for download in the Governance section of the FIA website. Here is the FIA statement: Press Release

“This lawsuit follows a number of allegations made by Mr. Vatanen to the media that attempt to challenge the integrity of FIA staff and the FIA election process. However, Mr. Vatanen has not provided an invitation to clarify and substantiate his allegations.”

The latest development comes following reports stating that the FIA has done everything possible to cater to the preferences of the outgoing president, Max Mosley, in favor of candidate Jean Todt, to ensure he wins the elections.

As well as suggestions from David Ward, the general manager of the FIA Foundation, who has lobbied for Todt in his spare time, leaked emails reveal that Peter Doggwiler, president of the FIA’s Motor Sport Safety Development Fund, also petitioned to help support Todt.