German body leaves FIA working groups

Germany's national motoring body, ADAC, was the first major organisation to react to Max Mosley's victory in today's confidence vote, saying that it regretted the result

ADAC had been one of the bodies who had asked Mosley to reconsider his position as head of the FIA following revelations about his private life.

The German body, which claims to be the largest Automobile club in Europe, said on Tuesday that it was withdrawing all involvement with the FIA.

The ADAC said it will continue with that policy as long as Mosley stays as president of the governing body.

"With regret and incomprehension, the ADAC has learned from the decision by the General Assembly of the FIA in Paris to confirm Max Mosley in his function as president of the FIA," the ADAC said in a statement.

"For Europe's largest motoring club, this is a reason to put down all its functions and the involvement in the global organisation of motoring clubs with immediate effect and to step down from the globally active FIA working groups.

"The ADAC will stick to this attitude as long as Max Mosley will be on duty as president of the FIA.

"After the affair became public on March 30, 2008, the ADAC insistently called upon Mosley in a personal letter to step down in order to avoid any harm being done to the FIA and its institutions. This was done in close co-operation with other major motoring clubs within this global organisation.

"The service portfolio for ADAC members will by no means be affected by the decision now taken. This is being ensured by a closely-knit worldwide network that the ADAC has already established for a long time and that is working very effectively.

"The services will be carried out without any compromises by its own companies as well as by European and global organisations in which the club is participating."