David Ward will be a candidate for president of FIA when the governing body of motorsport holds its election in December.
Ward said he will challenge current president Jean Todt of France after resigning from his long-standing position as director general of the FIA foundation.
"After much careful thought I have decided to stand as a candidate in the 2013 FIA presidential election," the 56-year-old Briton said in a statement. "The election period begins in September and it will be necessary for me to approach FIA members to secure nominations. In these circumstances I think the correct course of action is to resign."
Ward was formerly an aide to former FIA president Max Mosley and previously worked as an adviser to former Labour party leader John Smith.
He is also the executive secretary of the independent Commission for Global Road Safety and represents FIA in the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration.
