Disgraced FIA president Max Mosley has become embroiled in a civil war with a number of the world's leading automobile clubs.
The all-out feud comes a matter of days prior to a vote of confidence being taken on whether he is fit to remain in office.
In the days that followed the publication of lurid allegations into Mosley's private life, the clubs spoke out one by one against the 68-year-old, urging him to resign or consider his position.
Mosley has since stood firm, claiming he has the support of many other organisations, sparking his decision to call for the vote from the extraordinary general assembly that will take place in Paris next Tuesday.
In one last desperate attempt to force Mosley out, the clubs have joined forces, putting their name to a letter calling for him to stand down.
In the letter they claim: "The FIA is in a critical situation. Its image, reputation and credibility are being severely eroded.
"Every additional day that this situation persists, the damage increases. There is no way back."
But in a sharp retort in a letter in reply Mosley has derided their "suggestion of a 'crisis"' as "nonsense".
Using a motoring pun, he added: "Although I am personally embarrassed and greatly regret that this affair has become public, no-one fails to call for roadside assistance because of it."
He maintains in communications received from other club presidents they have been "overwhelmingly in favour of my remaining as president".
He continued: "I therefore had no choice but to submit the question (the vote) to the FIA membership as a whole. I certainly could not have simply ignored the majority and resigned."
In their letter dated May 28, the clubs also expressed their anger at Mosley for refusing the offer of a compromise deal to step down this November in exchange for a guaranteed victory in next week's vote.
The suggestion was proposed by the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT), a senior body of the FIA.
Mosley describes the suggestion as "the worst possible solution".
He added: "I would have resigned, yet still spent the summer carrying out all the day-to-day work with neither the time nor the authority to complete the major outstanding tasks.
"Better to stop immediately than accept this muddled compromise."
Mosley goes on to attack a number of the clubs behind the letter, which is signed by representatives from America (AAA and AATA), Australia (AAA), Austria (OEMTC), Belgium (TCB), Brazil (CCB), Canada (CAA), Denmark (FDM), Finland, (AL), France (FFA), Germany (ADAC), Hungary (MAK), India (FIAA), Israel (MEMSI), Jamaica (JAA), Japan (JAF), Norway (NAF), Singapore (AAS), Spain (RACC and RACE), Sweden (M), Switzerland (TCS) and the Netherlands (KNAC and ANWB).
Although the clubs involved represent around 85% of the total membership of the FIA, based on motorist members, they control only around 25% of the votes at the General Assembly.
It is believed groups like the AAA in America and Germany's ADAC have been looking to break away for some time.
Mosley claims a number of clubs "have been trying to change the structure of the FIA since well before the events they now seek to exploit".
He added: "Several of these same clubs have formed groups separate from the FIA from which the wider FIA membership is excluded.
"Worse, they have obstructed our efforts to improve co-operation between all clubs.
"Combined with a complete lack of transparency, I believe these activities are contrary to the interests of the FIA."
In an attempt to further undermine Mosley, the clubs refused to accept his assertion the FIA is at war with commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone with regard to the future of Formula One.
Mosley put forward the claim, among others, as to why he should continue, only for Ecclestone to issue a rebuttal, and pointedly state the FIA should be led by "a respected president".
Mosley's response is likely to further anger Ecclestone as he states the 77-year-old: "Is willing to continue working with the FIA because he has a binding contract to do so.
"In his letter to the clubs he says he is now willing to live with this contract. That is a sudden and major change in position."
Mosley has sent his letter to all member clubs, and not just those who have voiced their opposition, "in the interests of transparency".
He maintains the dissenters will be "free to express your views" at the general assembly, where the vote may now be closer than previously anticipated.
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