Dubai: The race for the highly-coveted FIA Presidency has taken a dramatic new twist with former 14-time Middle East Rally Champion Mohammad Bin Sulayem emerging as a strong candidate to replace the incumbent Jean Todt.
It has emerged that the 51-year-old Bin Sulayem, who in 2009 made history when he became the first Arab to be named Vice-President of motorsport’s governing body, the Paris-based Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), is making global headlines as the heavily-backed third candidate for December’s 2013 presidential elections.
While it had been widely publicised that the post would be contested by Frenchman Todt and Britain’s David Ward, Bin Sulayem’s speculated candidacy has added a whole new dimension to the recent developments.
Gulf News was unable to contact Bin Sulayem who is currently in Dubrovnik, Croatia to address the annual World Motor Sport Council meeting on Friday.
However, a spokesman for the Dubai-born impresario, had this to say: “Dr Mohammad Bin Sulayem is aware of the speculation regarding the FIA Presidency and it can be confirmed that he has been contacted in recent weeks by a number of ASC’s (National sporting authority) from around the world who have expressed a desire for him to run as a candidate.
“At this stage, he has seen David Ward’s manifesto and has now asked to see Jean Todt’s manifesto as well. Any decision he makes after that will be based on what is best for the FIA going forward.”
Ward’s 20-point manifesto is billed as an ‘Agenda for Change’ and proposes transparency and good governance pledges to reform the FIA governance.
Troubled Frenchman Todt, who like Bin Sulayem is a former professional rally driver, was elected FIA President in 2009, winning by 135 to 49 votes against Finnish rally driver turned politician and Palimentaria Ari Vatanen.
As news of Bin Sulayem’s likely candidacy broke on Thursday, leading international websites were pandering in guesswork with Britain’s Daily Mail even headlining their report ‘Bin Sulayem closes in on FIA presidential race as Todt looks to keep position’
The online edition also reported that: “Bin Sulayem is on the verge of running instead of the current contender, David Ward, a former Labour Party policy adviser who would then throw his formidable campaigning experience behind the new candidate.’
However, Bin Sulayem’s spokesman said: “Mohammad has not taken a decision as yet. He is currently reviewing the situation and is focused on addressing the World Motor Sport Countil.”
It is also understood that Friday’s meeting, which will be attended by leading representatives from National Automobile Clubs from around the world, could sway public opinion.
Motorsport.com reported that F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone had hinted that a third contender might be waiting in the wings.
“Maybe it (Ward’s candidature) has opened the door for other potential candidates,” he told the website. “They’ll say ‘If he can, I can too’. So we don’t know how many (candidates) there will be in the end. There’s still time to submit a nomination.’
American television program Speed Week quoted an insider as saying: “He [Bin Sulayem] would be a dangerous rival for Todt and Ward, because there are many out there who would support him more than the Frenchman and his [British] challenger.”
Earlier this month Bin Sulayem, who has been President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE since 2006, initiated an ambitious proposal to ‘unearth the future UAE motorsport champion’ through a revised calendar that was aimed at attracting youth and on building their careers.
In June this year, he was also appointed as chairman of the new Motorsport Development Task Force set up by the FIA to build a ten-year plan for the sport’s global development.
Bin Sulayem is also credited with ‘presenting a modern and progressive image of the Arab world to a global audience, and by promoting good causes, public service and education’.
