BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The representatives of the 222 automobile and racing clubs under the FIA umbrella in 134 countries will meet in an Extraordinary General Assembly in Paris on June 3 to vote by secret ballot on the future of embattled FIA President Max Mosley.
Meanwhile, a London High Court has refused Mosley’s request to have embarrassing photos and videos of his sex escapades removed from the Web site of the News of the World newspaper.
Mosley’s lawyers had obtained a temporary injunction, but failed in their bid to make it permanent.
Justice Eady, who said he made the ruling with some reluctance, said an injunction at this point is too late.
“I have come to the conclusion that the material is so widely accessible that an order in the terms sought would make very little practical difference,” he said.
“One may express this conclusion either by saying that Mr. Mosley no longer has any reasonable expectation of privacy in respect of this now widely familiar material or that, even if he has, it has entered the public domain to the extent that there is, in practical terms, no longer anything which the law can protect. The dam has effectively burst.”
Steeles, the law firm representing Mosley, released a statement that put a positive slant on Eady’s ruling.
“In his Judgment, Mr. Justice Eady stated that publication by News Group of photographs and video film ‘undoubtedly’ engaged Mr. Mosley’s right to privacy under the European Convention of Human Rights and stated that he had ‘little difficulty’ in deciding that there was not sufficient public interest in the publication,” the Steeles statement said.

“He has to think of racing instead of himself and stop being so selfish. This affair is doing serious damage."

— Five-Time Le Mans Winner Derek Bell

Steeles affirmed that Mosley is claiming unlimited damages, including aggravated and exemplary damages, for breach of confidence, unlawful invasion of his privacy and misuse of information following publication in the News of the World on 30 March 2008 of allegations concerning his private life.
Mosley says he will donate any damages he wins in the case to the FIA Foundation which promotes road safety, safety in motorsport and the environment.
More racing legends have joined the likes of Jackie Stewart, Jody Scheckter, Martin Brundle and Stirling Moss in calling for Mosley to resign immediately.
Speaking to The Times in London and other newspapers, Niki Lauda, Derek Bell, Tony Brooks and Damon Hill said Mosley is damaging the sport by staying in office.
“He has to think of racing instead of himself, and stop being so selfish,” said five-time Le Mans 24 Hour and three-time Rolex Daytona 24 Hour winner Derek Bell. “This affair is doing serious damage.”
The Canadian Auto Ass’n has sent a letter to Mosley asking him to resign.
A majority of the 222 member clubs of the FIA are maintaining a neutral or no comment stance until they meet and secretly vote in Paris.
At the moment, only the leaders of the Brazilian and United Arab Emirates associations have publicly supported Mosley.
“Surely he did not break the law,” Mohammed ben Sulayem, the president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, said of Mosley. “I am a full supporter. If someone wants to use this for the wrong reasons, it is not acceptable.
“God gave us a very amazing gift not to forget. How fast can we forget what this man did for motor sport? Where it was and where it is now. He did not commit anything that weakens the FIA.”
Britain’s Motor Sports Ass’n said in a statement that it hopes the entire affair can be settled in private during the June 3 meeting, and it will refrain from making any public judgment until then.