Max Mosley turns on BMW and Mercedes over their role in WWII as 'Nazi orgy' row escalates

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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."

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