Max Mosley is to step down as president of motorsport's world governing body the FIA, it was revealed today.
The FIA confirmed Mosley will step down in October via a statement at Mangy-Cours, the venue for this weekend's French Grand Prix.
The Englishman has held the position since 1991 and his departure will spark a flurry to find a successor, with Ferrari managing director Jean Todt already tipped as a candidate.
Mosley has a long history in motorsport, having started out as a driver in the 1960s, rising as high as Formula Two, the equivalent of Formula 3000 today.
Quick as he was Mosley was never going to be a top driver and turned his hand to team ownership, founding the enormously successful March company in 1969.
March built chassis for the likes of Jackie Stewart and Ronnie Peterson and won grands prix as both a factory entrant with customer outfits.
Mosley moved into Formula One administration on March's withdrawal in 1979, helping draft the first Concorde Agreement which set out how the sport is run.
After a short sabbatical from motorsport in the mid 1980s, Mosley returned to the FIA in 1986 as head of their manufacturers commission before taking the top job from Frenchman Jean-Marie Balestre in 1991.
Part of Mosley's success in ousting the controversial Balestre was his promise to quit quickly if he could not do a better job.
Since 1991 Mosley has formed a strong partnership with Bernie Ecclestone, who owns the commercial rights to Formula One.