06-04-2008, 06:27 AM
By Roger Blitz, Leisure Industries Correspondent
Formula One faces a period of crisis after Max Mosley, president of motor sports governing body, won a vote of confidence on Tuesday despite widespread calls for his resignation following his part in an orgy with prostitutes.
At an extraordinary general meeting in Paris called by Mr Mosley himself, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) voted by 103 votes to 55 to allow the 68- year-old president to keep his job.
Numerous motor racing associations, sponsors and manufacturers had called on Mr Mosley to quit, believing the reports published in March by the News of the World, a UK tabloid newspaper, tainted the sport.
Mr Mosley apologised for the embarrassment caused, but denied allegations that the incident had Nazi connotations, launched a legal action against the News of the World, and said he was determined to carry on in his post.
Last week, he lost the support of Bernie Ecclestone, F1s commercial director, who has run Formula 1 with Mr Mosley for more than a decade.
But the vote of confidence from the FIA, made up of more than 200 motor sport associations around the world, should enable him to compete his fourth four-year term in office, ending in October 2009. ADAC, the German motoring organisation, said it viewed the FIA decision with regret and incredulity.
Mr Mosley, son of the British fascist Oswald Mosley, has made enemies during his presidency with his forthright manner, but is credited with helping to shape F1s governing structure, improve the sports safety and develop greener technology.
Formula One faces a period of crisis after Max Mosley, president of motor sports governing body, won a vote of confidence on Tuesday despite widespread calls for his resignation following his part in an orgy with prostitutes.
At an extraordinary general meeting in Paris called by Mr Mosley himself, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) voted by 103 votes to 55 to allow the 68- year-old president to keep his job.
Numerous motor racing associations, sponsors and manufacturers had called on Mr Mosley to quit, believing the reports published in March by the News of the World, a UK tabloid newspaper, tainted the sport.
Mr Mosley apologised for the embarrassment caused, but denied allegations that the incident had Nazi connotations, launched a legal action against the News of the World, and said he was determined to carry on in his post.
Last week, he lost the support of Bernie Ecclestone, F1s commercial director, who has run Formula 1 with Mr Mosley for more than a decade.
But the vote of confidence from the FIA, made up of more than 200 motor sport associations around the world, should enable him to compete his fourth four-year term in office, ending in October 2009. ADAC, the German motoring organisation, said it viewed the FIA decision with regret and incredulity.
Mr Mosley, son of the British fascist Oswald Mosley, has made enemies during his presidency with his forthright manner, but is credited with helping to shape F1s governing structure, improve the sports safety and develop greener technology.