FILE -- This is an Oct. 29, 2006, file photo showing Germany's Michael Schumacher, right, embracing Jean Todt at the Monza racetrack in Monza, Italy. Schumacher is offering strong support to former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt for the presidency of motor racing's governing body. Todt and former world rally champion Ari Vatanen are competing to succeed Max Mosley as the president of FIA.(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Photograph by: LUCA BRUNO
Credit: AP

FIA presidential candidate Ari Vatanen took legal action in France on Friday as the battle for the most powerful position in world motorsport turned increasingly ugly.

The International Automobile Federation said that the Finn had served on them an application to the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance asking the court to impose measures for the presidential election on Oct. 23.

The FIA, Formula One’s governing body, added however in a statement at the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix that their existing procedures already provided more safeguards than the former world rally champion was seeking.

“The FIA is therefore at a loss to explain the purpose of this legal action, if not merely to generate further negative publicity and to attempt to raise doubts about the honesty of FIA staff,” it added.

The governing body, which said it had retained a public official to supervise the electoral process and the vote count, earlier published letters between Vatanen and outgoing FIA president Max Mosley.

At the same time, it called for an end to negative campaigning and “prejudicial leaks to the media”.

In his letter, dated Oct 14 and issued through lawyers, Vatanen complained that the “principle of neutrality has been flouted constantly by the FIA”.

He accused Mosley, who has publicly backed former Ferrari boss Jean Todt to take his place, as being the first to “violate” that principle.

Vatanen said a strongly worded letter sent by Mosley to Jordan’s Prince Faisal, one of the Finn’s leading supporters, had been defamatory and reserved the right to take legal action.

He also suggested FIA resources had been used on Todt’s behalf.

Mosley response

Mosley replied the following day with a letter expressing surprise at the criticism but reiterating his support for Todt.

“The essence of a free and fair election is that the merits of the different candidates are debated,” he wrote.

“It is not a violation of any legal principle for anyone to think that you are a less qualified candidate than your opponent for the role in question.” Mosley, who faced calls for his resignation last year when he was involved in a sado-masochistic sex scandal, urged Vatanen to provide evidence of any wrongdoing to the FIA.

“In an election people take sides,” added the Briton.

“Someone paid all the expenses for a large number of clubs to attend an election rally for you in Jordan. There have been similar efforts on your behalf in other countries.

“Perhaps you should take advice as to whether such direct financial aid is lawful. I suspect the response will be that it is inappropriate but not illegal.” While Vatanen has been backed by Formula One teams and manufacturers, Todt said this week that a large majority of clubs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East were backing him.

One of his supporters, Kenya’s Surinder Thatthi, issued a statement on Friday criticising Vatanen for reportedly suggesting that Kenya’s Safari Rally could reappear on the world championship calendar if he was elected.