Mosley aims to stand down in 2009

p class=”first”>Embattled Max Mosley has revealed he will not seek another term as head of the International Automobile Federation - if he survives a vote of confidence.

The FIA president`s term does not expire until October 2009 but he could be forced out in June after allegations surfaced about his private life.

Mosley was accused by a newspaper of taking part in a “Nazi-style orgy”. He denies his deeds had Nazi connotations.

“My inclination is to stand and fight,” Mosley told the Sunday Telegraph.

“If they wish me to continue, I will continue, if they don`t, I`ll stop,” said the 68-year-old.

“But I will also say to them that it was always my intention, because it is, that I was never going to go beyond 2009.”

They`re based on the idea that somehow you can`t have in your life any sort of sexual activity that`s at all eccentric Max Mosley

It was Mosley`s first interview regarding the allegations and came a day after Formula One driver Mark Webber accused him of bringing the sport into disrepute.

Webber told BBC Sport: “The current scandal has brought the sport into disrepute.

“Whether we like it or not, all of us in F1 are role models, and F1 simply cannot have scandals of this type.”

Mosley, who has been FIA president since 1983, faces a vote of confidence in a secret ballot of members at an extraordinary meeting on 3 June.

He said: “The fundamental reason [I`ve not resigned] is that the people who elected me, the presidents of all these clubs worldwide, a number of them have written.

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“And for every letter I`ve had from a club president saying, `I think you should step down`… I`ve had slightly more than seven who said, `You`ve absolutely got to stay, don`t give an inch.

“It would then be impossible to turn around to all these people, the great majority, and say, `No, I`m going to walk away`, even if I`m inclined to.

“But my inclination is to stay and fight.

“As far as the people in the sport are concerned, it`s interesting that none of the heavyweights have said anything, the people who really are the opinion formers in Formula One.”

Mosley admitted his wife Jean was “not best pleased” and his sons were “embarrassed” at the revelations.

But speaking of the criticisms he had received, he said: “They`re based on the idea that somehow you can`t have in your life any sort of sexual activity that`s at all eccentric.

“Most people say if somebody likes doing that, if it`s not harming anybody, if it`s in private and it`s completely secret and personal, it`s nothing to do with me.”

20.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ Mosley    ▪ news.bbc.co.uk