Thursday 27 August at 10:01 : Aug.27 (GMM) The president of France's motor racing federation believes having Jean Todt as FIA president would boost his country's chances of returning soon to the formula one calendar

Fellow Frenchman and former Ferrari boss Todt is contesting October's elections to replace the departing Max Mosley against the Finn Ari Vatanen

"We obviously support Jean Todt," Nicolas Deschaux, president of the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA), is quoted as saying by the French newspaper La Tribune

"His career speaks for itself," he added

While confident that Todt has what it takes to run the FIA, however, Deschaux is less bullish about efforts to restore the French grand prix, following the demise of the Magny-Cours event

"It's hard to find a place in F1," he said. "Times are tough economically, but we remain attentive. We have identified several projects and continue to fight to try to have a Grand Prix de France

"In this context, a French official at the head of the FIA could make our job easier," Deschaux added