Ward to run for FIA presidency

Candidate says he will resign as the foundation’s director general.

LONDON:

International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Jean Todt will have a rival if he stands for re-election this year, with FIA veteran David Ward announcing yesterday his candidacy to run motorsport’s world governing body.

Ward said in a statement that he was resigning as director general of the FIA foundation, after 12 years in the position, and throwing his hat into the ring.

Frenchman Todt, 67, has yet to confirm publicly that he is standing for re-election although all the signs point to him doing so.

“After much careful thought I have decided to stand as a candidate in the 2013 FIA presidential election,” said the 56-year-old Briton.

“The election period begins in September and it will be necessary for me to approach FIA members to secure nominations. In these circumstances I think that the correct course of action is to resign.”

Founded in 1904, the FIA groups more than 230 national motoring and sporting organisations in more than 135 countries and oversees Formula One as well as the world rallying, endurance and touring car championships.

Ward, who was a key adviser to former FIA president Max Mosley, has led the Foundation since it was set up in 2001 as an independent charitable body with a focus on road safety and the environment.

He was also a policy adviser to the late British Labour Party leader John Smith, who died in 1994, and was then director general of the FIA’s European Bureau in Brussels.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2013.

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