PARIS: Ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt was elected Friday to the most powerful post in motorsport as president of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

The 63-year-old Frenchman won the FIA general assembly vote against former world rally champion Ari Vatanen of Finland.

Todt succeeds the controversial Briton Max Mosley who has been in the hotseat for 16 years.

Although the new president will oversee motorsport in general, it is the marquee sport of Formula One and its future which will dominate the new agenda with Todt, who had the backing of Mosley and was tipped to win the election at FIA headquarters in Paris.