Mosley calls Extraordinary FIA meeting as pressure grows

The moves comes as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Honda all called on the FIA to address the issues arising out of the article published in the News of the World last Sunday.

 "The full membership of the FIA will be invited to attend the meeting at which the widespread publicity following an apparently illegal invasion of the FIA President's privacy will be discussed," said motorsports' ruling body in a statement.

 "The FIA has noted that Mr Mosley is preparing legal proceedings against the newspaper in question.

 "It is anticipated that the meeting will take place in Paris. It will be held on the earliest practicable date. No further comments will be made by the FIA regarding the matter at this stage."

   Earlier Thursday, BMW and Mercedes-Benz issued a joint statement, calling the content in the article "disgraceful" and demanding a response from FIA.

 "The content of the publications is disgraceful. As a company, we strongly distance ourselves from it," said the statement.

 "This incident concerns Max Mosley both personally and as President of the FIA, the global umbrella organisation for motoring clubs. Its consequences therefore extend far beyond the motor sport industry. We await a response from the relevant FIA bodies."

   Mosley responded in a statement: "Given the history of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, particularly before and during the Second World War, I fully understand why they would wish to strongly distance themselves from what they rightly describe as the disgraceful content of these publications.

 "Unfortunately they did not contact me before putting out their statement to ask whether the content was in fact true.

 "No doubt the FIA will respond to them in due course, as I am about to respond to the newspaper in question."

   The 67-year-old Briton also sent a letter to FIA members on Tuesday, saying he would take legal action against the News of the World over the allegations.

 Mosley said he had been the victim of "a covert investigation of my private life and background" and that he intended to continue in his role.

 Toyota issued a statement about the scandal on Wednesday, pointing out Mosley's moral obligations as the head of motorsport's ruling body.

 "Toyota Motorsport does not approve of any behaviour which could be seen to damage Formula 1's image, in particular any behaviour which could be understood to be racist or anti-Semitic," said the company.

 "Senior figures within any sport or business, including motorsport, must adhere to high standards of behaviour. When all the facts are known, it will be for the FIA to decide whether Mr Mosley has met the moral obligations which come with the position of FIA President."

   Honda has also issued a statement saying that was necessary that senior figures in sport and business maintain the highest standards of conduct in order to fulfil their duties with integrity and respect."

   The Japanese team went on to say that it was "extremely disappointed by recent events surrounding Mr Mosley and we are concerned that the reputation of Formula One and all its participants is being damaged."

   Mosley won't be in Sachir for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix after F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone advised against it because the local royal family could be offended and the racing would only be a secondary issue in the case of his presence.