Mosley invited to Jordan rally

UPDATE Max Mosley will be snubbed by the King of Jordan when he attempts his first public duty after lurid allegations about his role in a five-hour sadomasochistic orgy with five prostitutes. The Times has learnt that senior officials in Jordan, where Mr. Mosley is planning to travel this week, have voiced concerns about his appearance in the country.

The Times has also established that after his public snubbing by the Crown Prince of Bahrain, who told Mr. Mosley not to attend the Bahrain Grand Prix three weeks ago, King Abdullah of Jordan has decided that he will not receive him officially during the visit. Mr. Mosley had decided to go to Jordan instead of attending the Spanish Grand Prix, where it was feared that a chance meeting with King Juan Carlos of Spain, a keen race-goer, might create an embarrassment.

In Jordan Mr. Mosley will be the guest of King Abdullah’s brother, Prince Feisal, at the inaugural Jordanian stage of the World Rally Championship. According to an official press release issued by the rally, Mr. Mosley has “delighted" organizers by accepting the invitation to attend.

However The Times has learnt that senior officials in Jordan would prefer it if the visit did not go ahead, given the widespread revulsion at Mr. Mosley’s conduct, which has shocked Formula One and the boardrooms of the big car manufacturers. The Times

04/16/08 (GMM) Amid the pressure for him to resign due to the sex scandal, Max Mosley has received another rare piece of good news.

Added to his support from the motor racing body of the United Arab Emirates, the embattled FIA president has now been invited to attend the forthcoming Jordan Rally.

It will be the 68-year-old's first official appearance since the British tabloid News of the World broke the scandal about Mosley's prison-themed orgy with five prostitutes.

He has been invited to the Jordan Rally, a new event on the FIA world rally championship calendar, by the crown prince of the Arab country, Feisal Al Hussein.

Al Hussein is also the chairman of Jordan Motorsport.

"Max has been a strong friend and ally to Jordan," he said. "He has supported us since we announced our bid (for an FIA rally) three years ago, so we are delighted he will be sharing this historic occasion with us."

The Jordan Rally will be staged between April 24-27, meaning that Mosley cannot also attend the Spanish formula one grand prix at Barcelona.

He also did not attend the recent Bahrain grand prix, following a letter from the Bahrain crown prince.