Ari Vatanen talks to media at MSA's offices on Friday, flanked
by Beaulah Schoeman, outgoing MSA's MD,  and Jack Wavamunno from Uganda. Pic Tony Alves

09/10/09 - Mr Ari Vatanen, one of the two candidates for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Presidency, paid a brief visit to South Africa and the controlling body of motorsport in the country, Motorsport South Africa (MSA) today.

He met with Mrs Beaulah Schoeman, MSA’s Managing Director, whom he nominated as a member of his senate. Also in attendance was another nomination to his senate, namely Mr Jack Wavamunno from Uganda.

He said he is very proud of the above two African representatives and that he has no doubt that Beaulah and Jack will assist to make justice prevail in the FIA.

In replies to the media, he indicated that the upcoming election of the FIA President is about change.
“It is about recreating our magnificent sport and the forms of mobility we all believe in. It is an opportunity to open a new area of transparency, dialogue and collaboration. Openness to criticism and willingness to lead with respect for conflicting perspectives is intrinsic to democracy. Even more, democracy is about change – about the right to choose one’s future, as opposed to staying in the iron cage of the past,” he said.

He compared the FIA to a flower that can flourish with the daylight of democracy and the water of fairness.

Mr Vatanen said one of the most important roles of the FIA President, above all managerial duties, is globally to defend motorists, mobility itself and motorsport at the highest government level.

He said it is a moral aspect to raise the standard of living through mobility and this is critically important in Africa as mobility equals prosperity.

The elections will be held on 23 October and Mr Anthony Taylor, MSA’s Financial Director, will be the Federation’s voting delegated.

Mr Vatanen’s team is as follows:

Candidate Team
Fernando Falcó y Fernandez de Cordova, marqués de Cubas (Nominated for - President of the Senate)
Bernard Tay (Nominated for - Deputy President Automobile Mobility & Tourism)
Hermann Tomczyk (Nominated for - Deputy President Sport)

Nominations for Senate Members
Robert L. Darbelnet
Beaulah Schoeman
Eduardo Silva Araya
Setsuo Tanaka
Guido van Woerkom

Nominations for Vice President Automobile Mobility & Tourism
Iván Dibós
Mike Harris
Earl Jarrett
Niklaus Lundsgaard-Hansen
Peter Meyer
Tim Shearman
Maria Spetz

Nominations for Vice President Sport
HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein
Antonis Michaelides
John Naylor
Arie Ruitenbeek
Kari O. Sohlberg
Mümtaz Tachincioglu
Jack Wavamunno