FACTBOX - FIA presidential candidate Jean Todt
Updated on
Friday, October 23, 2009, 09:32
IST
Tags:Jean Todt, FIA
Prais: Factbox on Jean Todt, Max Mosley's favoured candidate to replace him as president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the governing body of motor sport, in a vote in Paris on Friday.
The son of a doctor who left wartime Poland for France, Todt was born in Pierrefort in the Cantal department of eastern France in 1946.
The Frenchman competed as a co-driver in the world rally championship and won the manufacturers' title with Talbot Lotus. He retired from competition in 1981.
In 1982, Todt founded Peugeot Talbot Sport and became director of racing activities. The team won two manufacturers' and two drivers' titles as well as four Paris-Dakar rallies during his time there.
He then became director of sporting activities at Peugeot-Citroen, with his team winning the Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1992 and 1993.
Todt moved to the Ferrari Formula One team, then a slumbering giant, in 1993 and persuaded Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn to join him. Under him, the team won 13 world titles, including six constructors' championships in a row from 1999 to 2004, and 98 races.
After handing over to Stefano Domenicali as team boss, Todt severed his ties with Ferrari in March 2009. He has been involved in the FIA since 1975 in various roles.
His partner is Malaysian film actress Michelle Yeoh, whose movie credits include "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Tomorrow Never Dies".
Todt's son Nicolas is manager to Ferrari's Brazilian driver Felipe Massa. He is also co-owner and boss of the ART GP2 team.
Todt is backed by current FIA president Mosley.
Bureau Report