The Jakarta Post’s Agnes Winarti met with Jean Todt, president of the Federation Internationale de L’Automotive (FIA), in an interview last week during his brief visit to the country. The following are excerpts from the interview:

Question: Can you share with us your suggestions to develop Indonesian racers so that they can compete better at the international level, such as Asia and Formula One?

Answer: Definitely, Indonesia is a great and big country. It seems surprising not to have more international worldwide motorsport events in Indonesia. I hope that at the top level of the country, starting from the President, will take the opportunity to implement international racing.

Of course, F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and I must say it’s encouraging to see the evolution of the sport in the region of Asia. We have Malaysia that started with a Grand Prix, then you have the Grand Prix street circuit in Singapore, another in South Korea and also races in China and Japan. I feel strongly about the development of the World Touring Car Championship here. I myself today (last Thursday) went to the Sentul Circuit, and it was definitely not the standard Formula One Circuit, but I’m sure with some renovation, this circuit could be and host the Touring Car and GP One championship.

Definitely for many manufacturers, this kind of racing is very important with the implementation of new technologies. I see a strong opportunity to implement different racing events. And Indonesia could be a strong opportunity.

But do you have any suggestions to develop the country’s racers?

That’s another thing. Concerning competitors, I am quite impressed to see young boys from six years old gokarting at the Sentul Circuit. So, you need education, it is something that is starting. You also need encouragement from the highest level to instigate this education process.

You mean a special school designed for racers?

Yes.

Do you think Indonesia should focus on one area of motorsport?

Yes. In my opinion, you have a Touring Car Championship opportunity. And a Cross Country rally event. In donesia is a big country so this would be a good opportunity.

How about all areas of Formula, such as Formula BMW…?

Of course. But you need to have circuits. Indonesia does not have a modern circuit, not yet anyway. So again, another opportunity besides building circuits is to teach people how to drive.

We speak often about racing. But something that is dear to me as the President of FIA is the driving-safe program. We are going to formulate the key of actios next month in New York, to the UN.

You know that in 2009, all over the world 1.3 million people were killed from road accidents, 90 percent of those came from countries where the road infrastructure is not at aceptable standards.

So, you need to reinforce road infrastructure. You need to increase education for the people, to learn how to drive and how to behave.

But going back to the Circuit. A circuit is like a stadium. We have a football stadium, that does not mean we always have championships or international games there, but places where players can play. On the circuit we learn how to drive and behave.

So the Formula One is not the most feasible championship to be held here in the next five or 10 years?

Yes, not now. But The World Touring Car Championship is. It depends from where you start, it’s a step-by-step progress. If you want to make the F1 race you need a standard circuit. At the moment you do not have one of that standard.

And your expectations for the country?

I have been giving presentations to the motorsport community and the government. We will participate in restructuring the Sentul Circuit and we are talking about implementing programs on young driver development, a special formation school.

Tell us about your enthusiasm of seeing youngsters in Sentul earlier today?

It’s great to see people with flame and passion for cars and racing. I’m always impressed to see the youngsters together, the group IMI (Indonesian Motor Association) and people wanting to contribute to the country. I hope they receive strong support from the government.

Source: The Jakarta Post – 21 February 2010
Photo: Associated Press Photo