Motorsport Scandal

In a statement issued on Friday, April 4, ADAC confirmed it had written to Mosley asking him to reconsider his post, as the motoring body did not feel it appropriate he could continue in his role in light of the sex scandal.

"In a letter to FIA president Max Mosley, the ADAC has distanced itself from events surrounding his person," ADAC said.

The 67-year-old son of former British fascist party leader Oswald Mosley, Max Mosley faces mounting pressure to resign ever since a British newspaper published raunchy details of his personal life.

The British Sunday newspaper News of the World alleged that Mosley was involved in a Nazi-style sex orgy with prostitutes in London last Friday. The newspaper posted a video on its Web site, showing Mosley having sex with five prostitutes.

The ADAC said the role of an FIA president who represents more than 100 million motorists worldwide should not be burdened by such an affair. Therefore, we ask the president to "very carefully reconsider his role within the organization," the organization said.

"It is in the interests of this world organization to carry on with its duties without the burden of this affair."

Mosley denies Nazi connotation

Mosley has not denied the incident took place, but insists there were no Nazi overtones and he has done no wrong.

Mosley said he had written to ADAC, repeating an earlier statement that he would be suing the newspaper that published the story and posted the video on its website.

The letter, parts of which were published on autosport.com, has been sent to all members of FIA, as well as members of the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism.

He said that he would have resigned immediately had he been caught speeding or driving over the alcohol limit.

"As it is, a scandal paper obtained by illegal means pictures of something I did in private which, although unacceptable to some people, was harmless and completely legal," Mosley said. "It goes without saying that the so-called Nazi element is pure fabrication. This will become crystal clear when the matter comes to trial. The newspaper invented this in order to spice up their story and introduce my family background," he wrote in the letter to ADAC.

"In short, I think I have done nothing wrong and that the wrong was done by the newspaper:"

Motorsport leading lights urge Mosley to quit

However, Mosley faces a growing chorus of calls from the motorsport world and leading carmakers to step down.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Toyota have all issued statements distancing themselves from the affair and calling for Mosley to act. former racing drivers such as three-time world champion Jackie Steward and South African world champion Jody Scheckter have called for Mosley to resign.

They were joined on Friday by the world's largest auto club, the American Automobile Association (AAA).

"AAA recognizes that Mr Mosley has dedicated many years of his life to advancing the interests of mobility and motorsport. However, after careful consideration, AAA has conveyed to Mr Mosley that it would be in the best interest of all concerned if he were to step down," AAA public relations managing director Yolanda Clark was quoted as saying by news reports.

Clark named the damage done by the revelations about Mosley "clearly public."

She said that the FIA and its leader "must uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior to exercise the moral authority required to represent millions of motorists."