02/10/2009
NEWS STORY
FIA presidency hopeful Ari Vatanen has come out fighting following Max Mosley's controversial letter to Jordan's Prince Feisal in which the Englishman claims that not only will the Finn suffer an embarrassing defeat but that those member clubs that support him will subsequently face being marginalised.
Mosley's letter to Prince Feisal, one of Vatanen's proposed vice presidents and who on Thursday hosted an extraordinary motoring conference in Jordan, caused uproar when the FIA president warned of repercussions following comments made by the Finn.
Mosley, bristling at Vatanen's campaign which is founded on the belief that under its current governance the FIA is "unfair, autocratic and unjust" wrote: "Any thought that, after the election, everyone can unite and work together can now be forgotten. It is not possible to make statements like Vatanen's and then expect the victims of insults and untruths to forget what has been said."
The FIA president, other than hinting at possible reprisals for those that side with Vatanen, predicted a humiliating defeat for the former World Rally Champion. "Vatanen will lose the election and lose badly," wrote Mosley, "not least because he chose to denigrate the FIA and those currently in office rather than run a constructive and civilised campaign."
Vatanen however, refuses to be intimidated, and came out fighting, telling the BBC: "There is very strong intimidation in this current regime. It is a question of the new and old world. We promise new competent people who will return the derailed FIA to the straight."
Mosley's threat, which is believed to have led to some member clubs, particularly the Arabic countries switching their support from his preferred candidate Jean Todt to Vatanen, has also led to fears regarding the voting process, with some member clubs calling into question the process and asking for the system to be run by a third party.
"In the interests of democracy, transparency and integrity, we must be sure that this election is held in a fair and open environment through a secret ballot, and under close third-party supervision," said Prince Faisal, according to the Daily Telegraph.
"The way in which I was pressurised was inappropriate," said Uganda's motor sport federation president, Jack Wavamunno. "I support Ari because I truly believe he is the best candidate for Uganda and Africa, but I was very saddened with the way that his opposition tried to convince me otherwise through threats and by other means."
Vatanen, who is now thought to be seeking legal advice in an attempt to keep the ballot secret, no doubt to prevent action being taken against those that vote for him, told the BBC: "It is all about meeting every single human being as an equal, I want people to be able to express their passion for the sport without the fear of recrimination.
Appearing to take a swipe at Max Mosley's right hand man, FIA Director of Communications Richard Woods, currently taking time out from his FIA role to mastermind Todt's campaign, Vatanen added: "My wife is my only spin doctor and she is the best because she knows right from wrong."
Despite Mosley's claim that all is already lost for him, Vatanen cites the example of Barack Obama.
"It happens in smaller elections too and this is a Barack Obama thing happening," he told the Guardian. "We believe we have more than half of the votes already and there is a tendency the tide has turned. The (Todt) camp has been very faithful to tactics (Mosley has) employed over the years. He has said from the word go that it's a foregone conclusion. But you cannot control people's minds when a fair election is possible.
"I know what the situation is and I am at peace with myself," he continued. "We're giving people hope and they are grabbing it.
"The letter implies what is at stake in this election," he added. "It is not just two men, it's a question of two worlds. Todt's is a legacy of a culture and the continuity of that. But with Max's letter I have a new slogan: 'If you don't want change, then don't vote for me'."