10/12/09
Jean Todt heads rally development scheme
Newly elected FIA president Jean Todt demonstrated his commitment to rallying this week by hosting a 'Rally Forum' that brought together the sport's major stakeholders from across the world for the first time.
The Forum was co-chaired by Todt, a former WRC co-driver and team manager, and FIA deputy president for sport Graham Stoker, with participation from promoters, teams, manufacturers and drivers from the World Rally Championship, the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the Dakar Rally and other cross-country rally championships.
Manufacturer representation included Citroen, Ford, Volkswagen and BMW. They were joined by a number of star names from rallying's past and present including Carlos Sainz, Guy Frequelin, Michele Mouton, Juha Kankkunen, Petter Solberg and Armindo Araujo.
Simon Long, the boss of World Rally Championship promoters, ISC, said: "Jean decided to hold the forum to bring together as wide a field of rally experience as possible so we could look the sport strategically from top to bottom. Everybody was invited to give their views on how best to grow their respective disciplines but also the sport as a whole.
"We discussed the challenges we faced, individually and collectively, and also proposed ways forward and solutions. Rather than looking just at WRC or regional rallies, for example, there is a recognition that we need a strategy now that provides a ladder of opportunity from grass roots to the top level of the sport, and a tiered structure that competitors can move through as they wish.
"There is widespread recognition that WRC is the pinnacle of the rallying pyramid, but in order for rallying to succeed at every level, be it regional or international, there needs to be a clear understanding of the way the pieces of the jigsaw fit together. Together we want to nurture talent and cultivate new teams, drivers and cars through a carefully structured, clear system involving everything from regulations, to promotion and marketing so everybody benefits."
The participants agreed to create a Working Group to produce a plan to develop rallying on a global level. The group will be chaired by Graham Stoker and comprised of representatives from each category of stakeholders.
"The overall spirit of the meeting was frank, constructive and there was a sense of common themes," added Long. "There are new people around bringing fresh perspectives to rallying in general and, of course, it's exciting having an FIA president with rally in his blood. I don't think that makes him biased in any way but he happens to understand, very well, the roots and heritage of rally and has an open mind about how it needs to evolve going forward. I think its really good news for the sport that he's there.
"All the ingredients are there for a fantastic sport, now the job is to mix them together and serve up the best that rally can offer."

Mr. Todt has a rallying background right? Used to rally for Peugeot or something..

i think he used to navigate for someone and then used to run a team....

He used to navigate for Guy Frequelin (ex citreon boss)

And then he was team boss at Peugeot (or was it Citroen?).

Peugeot.