Vatanen to stand for FIA president

By Alan Baldwin

NUERBURGRING, Germany (Reuters) - Former world rally champion Ari Vatanen announced on Friday that he would stand in October for president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

The decision will pit the Finn against Max Mosley, should the controversial 69-year-old Briton decide to seek a fifth term in office.

"Responding to requests from many FIA member clubs, I shall stand for presidential elections of the FIA in October this year," Vatanen said in a statement. "I think the time has come for a change.

"My main focus is to reconcile views within the FIA and bring transparency to its stakeholders."

Mosley, who survived calls for his resignation after a sado-masochistic sex scandal last year, has been FIA president for the past 16 years.

He said last month that he would stand down as part of a peace deal with Formula One teams threatening a breakaway championship.

However, Mosley has since suggested that he could reconsider after accusing Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo of calling him a dictator and the teams of prematurely dancing on his grave.

He has also warned that the FIA's independence is under attack, with the carmakers seeking to diminish the body's role as defenders of motorists in general, and needed a strong president.