Mosley admits orgy but denies Nazi slur

Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, Formula One's ruling body, is not denying that he took part in an apparent sado-masochistic orgy with five prostitutes (reported here on Monday) – but he is fighting the claims that he was pretending to be a Nazi during the five-hour sex session at a West London flat. Mosley reportedly claims that he spoke in German because two of the prostitutes were German.

Since the story broke in the News of the World, Moseley, son of the pre-war fascist leader Oswald Mosley, is said to have been speaking to lawyers, assembling a case against the paper that will focus on invasion of privacy. They will also claim that Mosley was set up. According to the Times, Mosley, will argue that he would never have intended to engage in activity that could be said to have Nazi overtones.

In a letter sent to members of the FIA on Tuesday, Mosley apologised for any embarrassment caused, but claimed to be the victim of a "deliberate and calculated personal attack" after a "covert investigation" of his family history and private life. "Regrettably, you are now familiar with the results of this covert investigation and I am very sorry if this has embarrassed you or the club," he said.

But some in the motor racing industry want Mosely to go. As one senior F1 figure told the Times: "How can you have a leader of industry, which is what Formula One is, who is a pervert?"