Vatanen Hits Back At Mosley Criticism
FIA presidential candidate Ari Vatanen has rejected incumbent Max Mosley’s prediction that he ‘will lose badly’ in his campaign to become the next head of the world motorsport governing body.
Mosley has openly backed Vatanen’s rival Jean Todt to be voted in as the new FIA president – a stance that has also included criticism of Vatanen’s chances.
A leaked letter to Jordan’s Prince Feisal, one of Vatanen’s proposed vice presidents if he beats Todt on 23th October, revealed Mosley’s claims.
‘Vatanen will lose the election and lose badly, not least because he chose to denigrate the FIA,’ read the letter.
In the FIA-branded document dated 28th September, Mosley alleged that Vatanen’s campaign ‘has been marked by untruthful claims’ and ‘has now descended to insults such as his recent statements… that the entire FIA system is unfair, autocratic and unjust’.
‘It is not possible to make statements like Vatanen’s and then expect the victims of those insults to forget what has been said,’ read the letter.
‘Any thoughts that after this election everyone in motorsport can unite and work together can now be forgotten. The more Vatanen criticises these [FIA] policies and the more insulting and untrue his claims, the more he damages the interests of those associated with him.’
Vatanen has now responded: ‘I personally see it as another sad episode, it is not constructive. It is a clash of cultures and the tide has turned, we are leading already. The dynamics are on our side.’
Vatanen, who was accused by Mosley of falsely stating the FIA had supplied a private jet for Todt, claimed he had been misquoted on that point in an interview.
But the Finn, 57, continued to contrast his own campaign with the existing hierarchy.
‘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.
‘My wife is my only spin doctor and she is the best because she knows right from wrong.’
