Max Mosley has won a vote of confidence to stay on as FIA president following a meeting on Tuesday morning.

Following a two-hour discussion regarding the 68-year-old's future, Mosley was said to be delighted with the result.

There were 103 votes in favour of Mosley, 55 against, with seven abstentions and four null papers.

US delegate Robert Darbelnet said he was disappointed with the outcome and may withdraw his country's membership.

The extraordinary general assembly was called after allegations surrounding Mosley's private life surfaced in the News of the World at the end of March.

Mosley has maintained a low profile since the scandal broke and avoided the media again on Tuesday morning when he arrived at the FIA's headquarters in Paris.

Up until a week ago the general consensus was that Mosley would comfortably survive the vote.

However, a significant number of automobile clubs joined forces late last week and sent Mosley a letter calling for him to quit.

As has been his position since day one, Mosley refused to do so, even ignoring a late plea from Formula One's commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone to quit.

Mosley shrugged off such calls and, having apparently put forward a powerful argument as to why he should stay at the meeting, the tide has turned in his favour.

President of the American Automobile Association Darbelnet said the result could split motorsport and lead to a breakaway from members from the FIA.

"We should not rush to judgement on this," he said.

"But one of the potential ramifications is the division or a split way from the organisation that might in fact provide an opportunity for like-minded clubs to find a representative body in a different form."

There has been mounting pressure for Mosley to go over the past two months, both from leading national motorsport federations and industry giants such as BMW, Mercedes, Toyota and Honda, who feared for their image and sponsorship money.

The German motoring organisation, ADAC, has already voiced its anger at the result.

"We view with regret and incredulity the FIA general assembly's decision in Paris, confirming Max Mosley in office as FIA president," said a spokesman.

"This is a reason for Europe's largest automobile club to let its functions and co-operation in FIA working groups rest at world level.

"ADAC will stay with its decision as long as Max Mosley holds the top FIA office of president."

Having becoming FIA president in 1991, Mosley's current mandate is due to expire in October 2009.