Ari Vatanen is ready to change the FIA after claiming they have spent more time recently "on the battle ground than on common ground."

Vatanen was at the Nurburgring and speaking for the first time since announcing he is to run for the FIA presidency.

The 1981 World Rally champion, and four-times winner of the Paris-Dakar Rally, yesterday made it clear it is "time for a change" following 16 years of rule under Max Mosley.

Vatanen insists he has no wish to "throw dirt at Max". But the 57-year-old Finn believes the FIA have lost respect over the years, in particular of late with the FIA-FOTA battle.

"It is true that in the last two years we have spent more time on the battle ground than on common ground," remarked Vatanen.

"I would say we need to reconcile, and the result of that would be unification. It's as simple that.

"We mustn't complicate things unnecessarily. We mustn't get to a stage where personal ego trips or victories in a power battle, for glory or whatever, determine the future of our sport.

"Imagine if there was a rival series, that would be the end of the FIA as we know it. Everybody would lose, including those in the other series.

"It's now at the 11th hour to apply common sense, and maybe a bit of humility would not be bad either.

"It is clear something is not right. But I will never throw dirt at Max. I have a very good relationship with him.

"I totally disagree with some of the things he has done, and he probably disagrees with me, but that is on another level.

"As human beings, it is not for a man to condemn. If one man condemns another then he gets condemned himself.

"We must keep this at a professional level, and that is what the FIA needs - unbiased professional management."

Vatanen insist it is vital the fans are heard, adding: "You can see the frustration among them.

"People must be proud of their family, and that's not the case today.

"But this is not a time to blame anybody. It's a time to get our house in order for the sake of our noble family.

"I will do whatever I can. I'm active, which is not the same as being ambitious.

"What matters is you listen to your heart; you have the courage of your convictions and you go for it. You engage yourself, and then you see."

Because it is the automobile clubs across the world who will vote in a new president in October, Vatanen claims he already has the support of the powerful American Automobile Association.

Talks are planned tomorrow with the heads of Germany's body, ADAC - also likely to give their backing to Vatanen, who has spent the last 10 years as a Member of the European Parliament.

Regardless of whether Mosley does stand again, or if it is former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, Vatanen is ready to fight his corner.

"It will not be a personal battle between me and someone else," he added.

"I've nothing to lose, and this is a noble cause because of the FIA as a whole.

"People don't even realise what the FIA represents. It's much more than F1. There are one billion automobile users.

"It is a fantastic family, and the health of that family is so important.

"If it is not treated correctly then the entire F1 family is not doing well, including the manufacturers and the sport itself."