PARIS (AFP) - Ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt promised "constructive change" after he won Friday's election 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 election with 135 votes against 49 for former world rally champion Ari Vatanen of Finland. There were 12 abstentions.

After a bitter campaign, Todt succeeds the controversial Briton Max Mosley who had been in the hotseat for 16 years.

Outsider Vatanen fought on a ticket for real change and greater democracy but ran into a hostile establishment led by Mosley.

"I am against the idea of saying we have to change everything," Todt said after the vote. "I am speaking about constructive change. What was true 10 years ago is no longer true today."

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 was strongly tipped to win the election at FIA headquarters in Paris.

Todt, riding on the success of his Ferrari glory years, campaigned on a degree of continuity from the Mosley era whereas Vatanen wanted a clean break.

The Finn congratulated Todt but said he was unhappy with the election and feared the same old regime would hold sway.

"When people tell you three times 'I share the same democratic values as you,' when they look you in the eye saying it, and then vote differently, it's very disappointing, not for me but for democracy," he said.

"The weight of the regime is such that if it is to carry on with the same personnel, it cannot change the (FIA) culture."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was among the first to congratulate Todt saying in a statement: "It is indeed very important that France is represented in the highest international sporting bodies."

Todt, from the tiny village of Pierrefort, in the Cantal region of central France, found his first success after moving out of the driver's seat to co-pilot compatriot Guy Frequelin to the world rally championship in 1981.

The following year Todt entered management with Peugeot, setting up Peugeot-Talbot. Under Todt's guidance, the team took won world titles in 1985 and 1986, followed by four Paris-Dakars from 1987-1990 -- Vatanen was behind the wheel.

Todt led Peugeot into endurance racing, winning Le Mans in 1992 and 1993.

His repeated success attracted the attention of ailing Ferrari in 1993.

Todt gradually transformed the Italian Formula One giants. In 1996 he took on Michael Schumacher, who already boasted two world titles with Benetton-Renault.

Ferrari had won eight constructor's crowns by 2008. Todt had climbed to general manager in 2001 and then chief executive officer.

Todt faces a serious challenge with F1 after a series of high-profile difficulties from the McLaren 'Spygate' controversy to the damaging 'Crashgate' affair where Renault were caught ordering former driver Nelson Piquet to deliberately crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

And Mosley's departure comes after a tumultuous period in the life of the son of 1930s British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley.

The 69-year-old won 60,000 pounds (70,000 euros, 100,000 dollars) in damages last year after a British newspaper alleged he had taken part in a "Nazi-themed sex orgy".

Mosley then had to contend with the death of his son Alexander, 39, who died of an accidental cocaine overdose at his home in London in May.