FIA presidential candidate David Ward is to file a complaint with the organisation's Ethics Committee about attempts to "distort the FIA's election process".

According to Ward, it appears that the FIA's current Presidency has been using FIA resources in an attempt to predetermine the election outcome even before the process had begun.

The FIA arranges and pays for meetings around the world, including to discuss how regions will benefit from future FIA activities and resources. However, according to Ward, it has emerged that, at these meetings, a number of clubs have been asked to sign formal written commitments to support Jean Todt's re-election bid, in the form of 'support agreements'.

"It is vital that the FIA election processes are conducted in a fair, democratic and transparent manner," said Ward. "I believe that demanding signature of support agreements in these circumstances represents a serious violation of the FIA's rules, regulations and ethical code.

"The complaint will enable the Ethics Committee to investigate the legitimacy of these agreements, the circumstances in which signatures were demanded, and whether it is an appropriate use of the FIA's resources for its staff and management to pursue Mr Todt's personal re-election ambitions at official FIA regional meetings."