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Max Mosley turns on BMW and Mercedes over their role in WWII as 'Nazi orgy' row escalates
Last updated at 01:22am on 05.04.08Motor racing chief Max Mosley yesterday attacked the war record of two leading German car firms as he sought to defend himself against allegations he took part in a Nazi sex fantasy.
Facing calls to resign as president of the motor racing's governing body the FIA, he turned defence into attack against BMW and Mercedes.
The two companies have issued statements expressing their disgust at his conduct after a Sunday newspaper revelation that Mr Mosley, son of Hitler sympathiser Sir Oswald, took part in a sado-masochistic orgy with five prostitutes.
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Pictures printed in the News of the World appeared to show Mosley taking part in a sordid sado-masochistic orgy
While the 67-year-old, who has been married for 40 years, admits being involved in the five-hour session in a "torture dungeon" in London, he says he will not resign because the central allegation that he played out SS death camp scenes is false.
Pressure mounted on Mr Mosley yesterday as the Crown Prince of Bahrain asked him not to attend this weekend's grand prix in the kingdom, saying a visit would be "inappropriate".
BMW and Mercedes branded his behaviour "disgraceful".
DIsgraced: Max Mosley will stay away from the Bahrain Grand Prix
But Mr Mosley hit back with a barbed statement in which he pointed a finger at their war allegiances.
"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."
Like many other German companies during that period of history, the car manufacturers turned their hand towards machinery that would help Hitler's war effort.
BMW produced a string of engines used by the Luftwaffe.
Mercedes provided the Nazis - including Hitler himself - with staff cars, and also engines for the Luftwaffe.
Before the outbreak of war, Hitler sponsored the Mercedes racing team.
Mr Mosley's sexual antics were captured on camera at a £2million riverside flat in Chelsea, just a short walk from where he lives with his wife Joan.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz issued a joint statement, which said: "The content of the publications is disgraceful.
"As a company, we strongly distance ourselves from it. 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."
It ended by stating that the companies were awaiting a response from the FIA.
Toyota and Honda voiced even stronger concerns about Mr Mosley's conduct.
Such public condemnation from within the world of Formula One is a signal of the growing pressure on the president.
The scandal has already spread well beyond British shores.
In a letter, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa asked Mr Mosley not to attend the Bahrain Grand Prix.
"In light of the allegations, I suspect you may be deliberating on your planned attendance at the Grand Prix here in Bahrain later in the week," he wrote.
I therefore felt it important to convey the position of Bahrain and its people.
"With great regret I feel that under the current circumstance, it would be inappropriate for you to be in Bahrain at this time."
The FIA said "legal matters" had detained its president in London.
Mr Mosley has instructed his lawyers to initiate action against the News of the World over the article. He believes it was part of "a covert investigation" to discredit him.
As well as denying the Nazi element of the sex session, he claims he only spoke German because at least two of the girls were German.
Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton last night backed the manufacturers.
"I totally agree with what they were saying," he said. "We're all, especially the young people, looking up to at least someone to show us the way."
BMW produced engines for the Luftwaffe's Focke-Wulf FW 190 plane
Messerschmitt's used Daimler-Benz engines to out-dive the RAF in dogfights during World War II
Reader views (10)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Whatever floats your boat. But as Richard Littlejohn (as ever) so ably points out:
"You'd never catch Arab princes consorting with prostitutes in London.
Can't have the good name of Bahrain brought into disrepute by a man who not only uses call girls but probably drinks alcohol and visits casinos, too".
Frankly, we've never been to Bahrain, and certainly have no desire to do so.
- Annabelle, london
By raising this, is Max trying to detract everyone from the headlines, or is he trying to detract everyone from his strap lines?
- Tangomike, Kensington, London
Max Mosley even suggested the police were looking into the sting - is it not illegal to engage prostitutes in the first place? The son of fascists now suggests Mercedes and BMW have Nazi leanings - he is deluded but like all dictators he's clinging to power.
If you want to know the full story about F1 and the dodgy relationship between Max and Bernie Ecclestone I suggest an excellent eye-watering account of just what is going on at the helm of F1 and why these guys are too powerful:
- Jessica, London
I don't think the people who work at BMW and Mercedes now were running the companies during WWII, were they? What a dumb response! He should just shut up and take the humiliation on the chin/bottom/where-ever . . .
- Roz, Chamonix, France
You are right the exposure of Mosley has gone far beyond the shores of the UK. Last night the largest viewed talk show (The Tonight Show-NBC ) had the host making jokes about Mosley, FIA President paying too much for Hookers.
Mosley cannot surely believe that Mercedes and BMW and Toyota and Honda will stand back and watch a sport in which the invest enormous sums, continues to be run by Deviant? The US markets are still quite important to all 4 manufacturers , Mosley continues to be out of touch with commercial reality. Surprisingly his buddy Bernie, the so called Commercial Rigths holder President is also completely on another planet!
They are joint destroying a great sport and both need to go off into retirement, and do it now!
- Robert Rath, Breckenridge, Colorado USA
Like father, like son. His father was a complete disgrace, and so is he ! What a family!
- James Adams, London, UK
Dressing up as a Nazi doesn't necessarily make you one. Look at Freddie Starr and Prince Harry.
- Keith, King's Cross
Each to their own.
- Ian Harold Brown, Southampton, UK
Another one on the long list of people in recent years who should do the honourable thing and resign.
- Robin, Brentford, UK
The FIA and the teams may be making a show of saying that Mosley's private life is his own affair, but behind closed doors the team owners are probably punching the air with delight - they've wanted to see the back of this megalomaniac for years.
- Paul, London
