THE former head of motorsport’s governing body, Max Mosley, is to lead an impressive line-up of speakers at the rebranded Blenheim Palace literary festival in September.

The broadcaster and DJ Paul Gambaccini and Dr Maki Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s eldest daughter, will also be among the speakers at the festival, which attracts hundreds to Woodstock every autumn.

The event has been renamed the Blenheim Palace Festival of Literature, Film and Music to reflect the festival’s wide ranging programme.

The four-day festival will run from Thursday September 24 to Sunday September 27 with The Oxford Times, the Oxford Mail’s sister paper, again amongst its sponsors.

For almost 50 years, Max Mosley has been involved in motor racing, having been a driver and owner of the March Formula One team owner. Between 1993 and 2009, he served as president of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), motor sport’s governing body and in partnership with Bernie Ecclestone he helped transform Formula One into a multi-billion pound global brand.

He will be speaking on the last day of the festival about his life and his new autobiography Formula One and Beyond.

Gambaccini, one of Britain’s best-known radio presenters, will be speaking about his book Love, giving a no-holds-barred account of the year he spent under a cloud of suspicion before being told he would not face historic sex assault charges.

He will be talking to Lord Finkelstein, former executive editor of The Times.

Dr Mandela will join the festival to discuss the life, legacy and art of her father in a unique appearance in the UK.

Other festival highlights include Turkish Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk, who will be launching his first new novel in six years.

From the world of music, Alfred Brendel, one of the greatest pianists of all time, and Andrew Gant, the former organist, choirmaster and composer at Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, will be guest artists.

Another high-profile speaker will be the great nephew of the Emperor of Ethiopia, His Imperial Highness Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, launching his new biography King of Kings – the Triumph and the Tragedy of Haile Selassi of Ethiopia.

ITV, partner of the festival, will be staging film events at the festival including a discussion on a documentary being made about Mary Seacole, once voted the greatest black Briton in history.

Sally Dunsmore, festival director said: “The new name is reflective of a new focus. This year’s schedule of engaging events and stimulating speakers will mark an exceptional four days.”

* For further details visit blenheimpalaceliteraryfestival.com