16/10/2009
NEWS STORY
Ahead of next week's election, the fight for the FIA presidency gets messier and dirtier.
Yesterday, the Daily Telegraph revealed leaked e-mails which showed that senior figures within both the FIA and the FIA Foundation - an independent charity mainly financed by the FIA - have been lobbying on behalf of Jean Todt.
The FIA Foundation subsequently responded to the Telegraph's revelations by publishing two e-mails sent by the FIA Foundation's Director General, David Ward to the FIA Foundation's Board of Trustees.
In one of the e-mails Ward reveals that he only works for the FIA Foundation for four days each week and that his work on behalf of Todt - which includes developing his candidacy policy agenda and providing advice to his campaign - is done in his spare time.
With growing concern at how - if not why - certain people behind the scenes at the FIA and FIA Foundation are involved in Todt's campaign, even if they are doing it on a voluntary basis in their spare time, Ari Vatanen has officially accused Max Mosley of improper interference in the campaign.
According to the Daily Telegraph, in a letter delivered by a huissier de justice to Mosley's FIA HQ in Paris, Vatanen accuses Mosley - in terms of his open support of Todt - of breaching "the principle of neutrality" as set out in French law.
"The FIA is a non-profit organisation and is governed by French law," writes Vatanen. "Pursuant to French law, the operation of non-profit organisations is governed by legal principles. The breach of this principle of neutrality during election campaigns, when aimed at distorting the results of the election, is punishable by all of the French Courts."
The letter also makes mention of Mosley's recent letter to Prince Feisal of Jordan in which the out-going president warns of repercussions for those that vote for Vatanen. The Finn claims the letter contained a "defamatory statement".
"I reserve all right to take action on account of the act previously committed against me," he warns.
Meanwhile, an FIA spokesman - wonder who that could be - claims that the frenzied work of FIA and FIA Foundation employees on behalf of Todt is all above board. “The election is being conducted in accordance with the FIA statutes and with the law," he said. "Nothing we have seen has contradicted that.”
And with that he no doubt scurried back and to join the other worker bees to toil ceaselessly for their Queen.
Expect the fight to get even dirtier in the days ahead.