David Ward has warned that Jean Todt has 'jump started' the FIA's election race, breaking rules that threaten to undermine the fairness of the FIA's 2013 presidential contest.

Responding to a letter from Jorge Tomasi, President of the Automobile Club of Uruguay, David Ward explains why he has made a formal complaint to the FIA's Ethics Committee about 'support letters' for Todt promoted at a series of regional meetings in Latin America and Asia before the official start of the election.

"The use of support letters well in advance of the Presidential election period" Ward argues, represents "a serious breach of the FIA laws, rules and regulations... They should not have happened, and the breach of the rules should be investigated and subject to an appropriate penalty".

David Ward also suggests that "at the very least it would be in the best interest of the FIA if all the support letters signed before 6th September now be revoked. By declaring them to be null and void, all the clubs involved would be released from any obligation they feel they may have unwittingly made before the election process had officially begun. The FIA membership
can then engage in the election process transparently, without prior commitment, and make their choice based on a fair comparison of the candidates and their respective manifestoes".

On 17 September, Tomasi sent the following letter to Ward:

Dear David

I am writing you with reference to your request of 6th September in order to receive the confirmation vote of your candidacy as President of the FIA by the Automobile Club of Uruguay and also to answer to the public appreciation about the Regional meeting held in Montevideo in March 2013.

About the first point, and as you already know, my Club supports the candidacy of Mr. Jean Todt for a second term of office heading the FIA, therefore, it is not possible for us to pay attention to your request.

About the second point, I want to express my displeasure about the claims commented to the press about the above mentioned meeting.

At first, l would like to clarify the purposes of the meeting, which were as follows:

1. Realisation of a joint BID-FIA road safety forum (similar to the one held in Sao Paolo at the end of August 2012), agreed by the presidents of both organisations, in accordance to the agreement reached opportunely, of taking joint actions in Latin America, with the participation of the most important authorities of the National Government, where all the Presidents of the Clubs from Region III and IV, from Mobility to Sport, were invited to attend.

2. To develop a regional meeting with the purpose of checking the evolution of the agreements reached in the American Congress in Cancun, in August 2012, in order to join opinions to divulge the "FIA Golden Rules", supporting the Decade of Action for Road Safety.

3. To celebrate with President Todt and all regional leaders the 10th Edition of a very important motorsport event for our country, as it is the Grand Prix of Uruguay "19 Capitales Historico", where more than 200 drivers were present, representing 9 countries, participating in the preliminary activities at the technical beginning of the competence (it should be noted that the invitation to President Todt was extended in advance, during the General Annual Assembly held in December 2011 in New Delhi, according to his complex agenda).

4. To strengthen ties with President Todt and to express him the gratitude of all the clubs of the Region because of his excellent work heading the FIA, as it is stated in the invitation note sent in due time to each of the presidents of the regional clubs, in both branches.

About it, you claim in the press that the club presidents were pressured to sign a support letter for his continuation heading the FIA. THIS WAS NOT IN THIS WAY, you have been misinformed, it is offensive for the participants, putting into question either their behavior or personality.

In the course of the meeting, we discussed among all the attendees the future wanted for the FIA and we reached the unanimous conclusion of the importance of the continuity of Mr. Todt as President of the FIA.

That is why we agree altogether to give him a letter expressing our support, in the case he presents for a second period.

There was no external pressure to the Regions, nor internal for the decision taken among the first level leading figures of the clubs, both sport and mobility.

You also claim in the press that the presence of the President due to determine the results of the election in December, using the resources of the FIA. I hope I have mentioned clearly the reasons for the presence of President Todt in Montevideo, accepting an invitation to bring relevance with his figure to a very special edition, as it was the tenth edition of the Grand Prix, and the realization of the forum together with the IDB.

With reference to the necessary expenses of the whole program, each club paid for their own travel expenses, and the stay, meals, shuttle services and expenses for the organization of the meeting were mainly covered by the local Club, and a small part by Region IV, as well as the forum expenses by the support of the IDB and several easily recognizable sponsors in the print documents of the meeting.

A separate paragraph for the ethical concerns you mention about the support given by the letter delivered to President Todt. These are not shared at all. We understand that it was a legitimate way to let know the opinion of an important union of clubs, gathered in Regions III and IV, sport as well as mobility, to a person that has given a great dimension to the FIA, as never before, and that his actions has been of great importance for the Latin American clubs, bringing relevance to them through the visits made opportunely to each country.

A similar document was given to Jean Todt in the year 2009 in Mexico, known as the "Agreement of Puebla". In that electoral process, where you supported the candidacy of Todt, and according to your words, "you are proud for have played a key role for his electoral success". The mentioned document did not deserve any public objection on your side.

Finally, as these wrong remarks have taken public knowledge and therefore are available to all the FIA clubs, I allow myself, appart from you, to also send a copy of this answer to all the FIA members.