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Todt aims to reinstate French GP

Following his election as FIA president, Jean Todt has wasted no time in outlining his priorities. He has backed the French motor racing federation to revive the French Grand Prix.

There was no grand prix in France in 2009 for the first time since 1955, and the new FIA president is keen to bring the event back to his home country, saying talks will take place with government officials. "I hope that France again has a grand prix," he said.

Todt is also keen to repair relationships between the Formula One Team's Association and the FIA, and he was quick to dismiss concerns of any tension between himself and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who clashed with Todt's predecessor Max Moseley. "It is not true that I have had problems with Montezemolo," Todt told Italy's Tuttosport. "Actually he was the first person I heard from after the election and also the previous evening he sent me a very nice message."

Todt also insisted there were no hard feelings between him and his defeated rival Ari Vatanen, hinting at a possibility of a role for Vatanen. "He had his list [of supporters], and I had mine," Todt told Agence France-Presse. "But we cannot exclude any outcome. We need competent people."

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