Mosley Kicks Vatanen Out of FIA Meeting

Racing for the FIA presidency can only be tough if your name is Ari Vatanen, and the Finn found that out yet another time on Wednesday. The former World Rally champion decided to attend a FIA meeting in which Max Mosley was also part of and was consequently shown the door after only 3 minutes.

The reason why he was kicked out of the meeting by the 69-year old Brit is all too simple. Vatanen's strategy for the October elections has focused on criticizing the current regime imposed by Mosley within the ruling body, while also militating for an immediate change in the upcoming years.

In addition to that, the Finn suggested that Mosley is putting a lot of pressure on several member clubs in order for them to vote for counter-candidate and election rival Jean Todt.

“Vatanen is reported to have told his colleagues that he wanted to discuss claims the 2010 FIA voters will receive their ballot papers in named envelopes, rather than distributed randomly,” said a report from the GMM news agency yesterday.

This is not the first time Vatanen faces a tough attitude from a FIA or Formula One official, as he was last month ejected from the grid at the Italian Grand Prix, at Monza. After the incident, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone argued that the Finnish candidate did not have a FIA pass and had no authority to walk down the grid.

In spite of those things, two more member clubs – namely Saudi Arabia and South Africa – publicly announced they will support Vatanen for the elections next week, when the Finn will take on former Ferrari-an and Mosley-friendly Jean Todt.