Ari Vatanen

FIA presidential candidate Ari Vatanen hit back on Thursday at his rival Jean Todt's claims that he was using a dirty tricks campaign in the build-up to next week's election. The Finn said it seemed that Todt, and others, appeared to feel that the mere suggestion that motorsport's governing body the FIA needed change, democracy and transparency was a personal attack on them. In the build-up to this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, Vatanan again made clear he had no wish to be involved in any kind of personal vendetta with the 'ancien regime' and said he found their reaction 'amazing'. Vatanen said: "Many people ... Read Full Story

Ari Vatanen's campaign to become world motorsport's most powerful man hit fresh controversy on Friday when the FIA accused him of trying to question the ruling body's integrity. Former world rally champion Vatanen stunned officials by asking a French court to impose a number of measures for the election which will decide the successor to Max Mosley. But the FIA hit out at the Finn as the election battle, which also features former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt, took another ugly turn. "Had Mr Vatanen troubled to examine the procedures in place, he would understand that these in fact already provide more safeguards than ... Read Full Story

A group of leading, and influential member clubs of the International Motoring Federation (FIA) on Thursday pledged their support for Ari Vatanen as the new president of world motor sport's ruling body. The group of 14 clubs has written to and urged all other fellow-clubs in the FIA to follow them and support the Finn, a former world champion rally driver and a member of the European parliament, against Frenchman Jean Todt in the forthcoming election later this year. The group expressly referred to democracy and transparency in its supporting letter, released on the same day that Brazilian Nelson Piquet's statement about race-fixing was ... Read Full Story

Video clip from the 1980 Circuit of Ireland Rally which was shown on World of Sport, with Dickie Davies providing the commentary and interviews by Barrie Hinchliffe. Drivers featured in the footage include; Ari Vatanen (Ford Escort RS1800), Jimmy McRae (Vauxhall Chevette HSR), Billy Coleman (Ford Escort RS1800), Russell Brookes (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus), Alan Carter (Toyota Celica), Ger Buckley (Ford Escort RS1800), Henri Toivonen (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus), Berie Fisher (Ford Escort RS1800), Roger Clark (Triumph TR7), Malcolm Wilson (Ford Escort RS1800), John Lyons (Opel Kadett GT/E) and Stig Blomqvist (Saab 99 Turbo). video uploaded by Mk2RS1800 Similar Posts: Circuit of Ireland Rally, the third ... Read Full Story

Ari Vatanen believes his election as FIA president would be a "mini-revolution" comparable to Jenson Button's unexpected Formula One championship win. "They [Brawn GP] were the underdog at the beginning of the year and they became champions," Vatanen said. "This phenomenon is now happening in the FIA." The former MEP has previously likened his campaign to that of President Barack Obama by promising change. Vatanen explained to The Associated Press: "You could call it a mini-revolution - back to the basics and that the universal fundamentals be respected again. We must put our house into order." The Finnish FIA presidential candidate has called on ... Read Full Story