Motorsport boss Max Mosley has taken a libel claim against the News of the Worldover allegations he engaged in a Nazi-themed orgy.
The Sunday tabloid reported Mr Mosley joined five prostitutes in a five-hour orgy and published video of the alleged encounter.
FIA President Mr Mosley is suing the paper’s owner, News Group Newspapers, in the British courts for breach of privacy, with a five-day trial expected in July.
The French lawsuit claims defamation and invasion of privacy against the newspaper and members of its staff including its editor in chief, Mr Mosley’s lawyer said today.
Mr Mosley (67) the son of British Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, has accepted that he visited the prostitutes, but denies there were Nazi overtones to what happened.
The newspaper successfully blocked a High Court bid by Mr Mosley to prevent publication of the video last month.
He has apologised to the FIA - the governing body for Formula 1 - for any embarrassment caused by his actions, but faced repeated calls for his resignation.
His future is likely to be decided in a confidence vote in Paris next week.
PA