Todt replaces Mosley as FIA president

By Bertrand Boucey

PARIS (Reuters) - Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt replaced Max Mosley as president of Formula One's governing body after trouncing Finnish rival Ari Vatanen in a vote on Friday.

"Jean Todt has been elected president of the FIA for a four-year term by the FIA General Assembly at its annual meeting in Paris," the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement.

The 63-year-old Frenchman won 135 votes to 49 for Vatanen, the former world rally champion who was his sole rival for the most powerful position in world motorsport. There were 12 abstentions.

"I like action, I like to make things go forward and I am really happy to see that so many countries chose me but everything is yet to be done," Todt, whose position covers everyday motoring matters as well as sport, told a news conference.

"The day the election is over everybody must share the same goals, including those who did not support me," he added in a conciliatory tone to his beaten rival. "I am not closing the door to anybody."

Todt, who competed in the world rally championship as a co-driver before moving into team management, made clear he intended to delegate much of his authority at a body that unites 221 member clubs -- representing some 100 million motorists -- from 132 countries.

"I want to nominate commissioners because I am not intending to run Formula One as a first person," he said. "I don't want to underestimate the problems but success in my career has always been to have the right people in my teams."

Todt had been backed throughout an increasingly acrimonious campaign by Mosley, who will remain in the FIA senate, and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.