Mosley survives FIA vote

Max Mosley is to continue as the President of world motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, after winning a vote of confidence in Paris this morning.Mosley called the vote after he was accused by Sunday newspaper the News of the World of participating in a “Nazi-style orgy”. He is taking the newspaper to court on invasion of privacy, but his control of the FIA – which also plays a sizeable role in road safety schemes, as well as controlling most of the leading motorsport series – had been shaken sufficiently for him to demand more formal, regulatory backing from the various motor clubs that make up the organisation.The FIA vote in Paris was conducted via a secret ballot; a total of 177 votes were cast, leaving Mosley requiring 89 votes to show that he has retained the confidence of the clubs that make up the FIA. He polled 103 votes, with 55 members voting against him and seven abstentions.Despite public criticism from some of the larger clubs – including America and Germany – the process had been tipped to back Mosley, purely because its structure made no reference to the number of members in any voting organisation.Mosley, who has already stated that he will not seek re-election when his current term ends next year, now faces a battle to regain credibility. His court case against the News of the World on invasion of privacy is expected to be heard in July, but regardless of whatever verdict is passed there, the FIA chief will need to embark on a hectic schedule to rebuild his reputation with major political figures and, crucially for the FIA’s work beyond Formula One, major industrial leaders and car manufacturers.The decision risks splitting the FIA altogether. America's AAA, which has over 55 million members, has been an outspoken critic of Mosley since the tabloid revelations and its president has already hinted that it might withdraw its membership of the FIA altogether.