**Jean Todt will succeed Max Mosley as the new head of motorsport’s world governing body, the FIA, after winning the presidential election in Paris.**The former Ferrari team boss claimed 135 votes compared to 49 cast for his rival Ari Vatanen with 12 abstentions.
Todt, 63, was the favourite to win the vote after being backed by Mosley, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
The vote brings an end to Mosley’s controversial 16-year reign.
“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,” an FIA statement said.
Schumacher, who had accompanied Todt to the meeting, added: “It’s positive, very positive.”
Mosley had agreed he would not stand for a fifth term as president as part of a peace deal struck in July to end the threat of a breakaway championship by Formula 1 teams.
Following his decision, Mosley immediately endorsed Todt ahead of Vatanen, who had already put himself forward as a candidate.
Todt and Vatanen, who worked together on the Peugeot rally team in the 1980s, fought an increasingly bitter campaign to succeed Mosley.
Both presented themselves as the candidate for change and harmony.
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