Mosley: I've done nothing wrong

Mosley came out fighting on Friday by starting a legal battle with Sunday tabloid the News of the World that printed details of a sex scandal involving the 67-year-old. Mosley has since come under severe pressure to resign from major manufacturers and motoring organisations across the world.

But in a letter addressed to Peter Meyer, president of Germany's motoring federation ADAC, and sent to all facets of the FIA and World Council members, Mosley maintains his actions were "harmless and completely legal".

The letter reads: "Had I been caught driving excessively fast on a public road or over the alcohol limit (even in, say, Sweden where it is very low) I should have resigned the same day.

"As it is, a scandal paper obtained by illegal means pictures of something I did in private which, although unacceptable to some people, was harmless and completely legal.

"Many people do things in their bedrooms or have personal habits which others find repugnant. But as long as they keep them private, nobody objects.

"The offence seems to be not what I did but the fact that it became public. But I played no role in this, indeed I did my utmost to ensure it remained private. I was the victim of a disgusting conspiracy.

"It goes without saying that the so-called Nazi element is pure fabrication. This will become crystal clear when the matter comes to trial. The newspaper invented this in order to spice up their story and introduce my family background.

"In short, I think I have done nothing wrong and that the wrong was done by the newspaper. That is why I am suing them."

A meeting of the extraordinary general assembly is due to take place before the end of the month, most likely in Paris. The assembly comprises 222 national motoring organisations in 130 countries, and it is in their hands Mosley's fate rests.