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05/02/2008
Racial Taunts Put Spanish Grand Prix In Doubt
UK Sport's Minister Gerry Sutcliffe is to write to his counterpart in Spain to express his anger and outrage over the racist taunting of British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton over the weekend. Spain is now in danger of losing both of its formula one grand prix races because of the racist insults.
The sport's governing body, the FIA, said yesterday that the abuse aimed at Hamilton, formula one's first black driver, during testing at the Barcelona circuit could result in sanctions.
The Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled to take place at the track on April 27, and Valencia hosts the European grand prix on August 24, though these are both now in doubt.
The Spanish Motorsport's Federation yesterday declared its "absolute repulsion" at the incidents in Barcelona and issued a stinging condemnation of the fans who racially abused Lewis Hamilton at the weekend.
A number of spectators aimed gestures and shouted racist abuse at the 23-year-old at the Circuit de Catalunya on Saturday. One group of young men wore wigs, dark makeup and T-shirts with the words "Hamilton's family" written on them.
Hamilton, who is unpopular in Spain following his acrimonious rivalry with his Spanish former teammate Fernando Alonso last year, said: "The truth is that I feel somewhat sad.
"I am in love with this country, and especially Barcelona and this circuit, one of my three favourites," he said.
The circuit's management is said to be considering legal action against the spectators involved in the racist taunts.
(GC)
The sport's governing body, the FIA, said yesterday that the abuse aimed at Hamilton, formula one's first black driver, during testing at the Barcelona circuit could result in sanctions.
The Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled to take place at the track on April 27, and Valencia hosts the European grand prix on August 24, though these are both now in doubt.
The Spanish Motorsport's Federation yesterday declared its "absolute repulsion" at the incidents in Barcelona and issued a stinging condemnation of the fans who racially abused Lewis Hamilton at the weekend.
A number of spectators aimed gestures and shouted racist abuse at the 23-year-old at the Circuit de Catalunya on Saturday. One group of young men wore wigs, dark makeup and T-shirts with the words "Hamilton's family" written on them.
Hamilton, who is unpopular in Spain following his acrimonious rivalry with his Spanish former teammate Fernando Alonso last year, said: "The truth is that I feel somewhat sad.
"I am in love with this country, and especially Barcelona and this circuit, one of my three favourites," he said.
The circuit's management is said to be considering legal action against the spectators involved in the racist taunts.
(GC)
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