Embattled Mosley skips Spain, but is planning a trip to Israel

Mosley chose the low-profile Jordan Rally rather than Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix to make his first public appearance since allegations that he took part in a Nazi-themed orgy with five prostitutes.

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It meant he passed up the opportunity to front the FIA's 'EveryRace' initiative - prompted by abuse aimed at Lewis Hamilton here in February - to the consternation of a cynical paddock.

Although the FIA insisted the Spanish Grand Prix was never on his itinerary, the prevailing mood was summed up by one team boss, who said: 'The fact he's there rather than here, shows that he just can't do his job. His position is untenable.'

Mosley, 68, claims that he is engaged in important FIA business, promoting motor sport in the Middle East.

It is also under that pretext that he is taking up an invitation from the Israel sports minister, Galeb Majadle, to talks in his country after the two met yesterday in Amman, where both were guests of Jordan's crown prince, Feisal Al Hussein, the head of the country's motor sport fraternity.

Mosley will see the invitation from a country so obviously sensitive to anti-Semitism as proof that he can discharge his role as FIA president.

It could be interpreted that they accept his contention - currently part of legal action against the News of the World - that he was not acting out a Nazi sex fantasy. Others will see it as empty posturing ahead of FIA's vote over his conduct, scheduled for June 3.

There remains the possibility his intention to visit Israel could backfire. The Israeli motor sport federation have already spoken out against him and more voices could be raised against him at the prospect of his arrival. No date has been set for his visit.

Mosley claims to have received seven letters of support for every one against, though few friends have aired their positive comments in public.

After the crown prince of Bahrain told him he was unwelcome in his homeland during the last grand prix earlier this month, his appearance in Jordan was less than rapturously received.

He was a guest at a poorly-attended dinner at Rally HQ on the shore of the Dead Sea on Wednesday before talks with the Israelis and Thursday night's ceremonial start.

Mosley is expected to meet rally team bosses on Friday at the event's service area. But some were wary of such contact. One said: 'Our team is issuing no invitation to him but if he turns up at our hospitality unit, we will talk to him. It would be rude not to.'

Another, referring to the widely-held view that Mosley has little interest in rallying but is using Jordan's first world championship event as an excuse not to be in front of the cameras in Spain, said: 'I do not like our sport being held hostage.'

Significantly, the English-language Jordan Times carried a large preview of the rally on Thursday without mentioning Mosley.