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The Spanish motorsports federation issued a stinging condemnation of fans who racially abused McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton at the weekend and declared its “absolute repulsion” at the incidents in Barcelona.
The RFE responded after the International Automobile Federation (FIA) demanded a full report and a source close to Formula One’s governing body warned that Spain’s two grands prix could be at risk.
Hamilton, the sport’s first black driver and championship runner-up in a sensational rookie season last year, was taunted and insulted during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya.
“The Federation wants to show its absolute repulsion at these incomprehensible incidents and demonstrate its support and solidarity for the McLaren team and especially their driver Lewis Hamilton,” the RFE statement said.
“This type of idiots that are confusing sporting rivalry with violence should be aware that the Federation has a zero-tolerance approach to this issue.”
The statement said the abuse came from a small and unrepresentative group among many thousands of spectators present.
It commended circuit organisers for removing offensive banners and said the RFE had asked them to strengthen measures to avoid similar incidents in future.
McLaren’s next test will be at the southern Spanish circuit of Jerez from Feb 12-14.
VILE TAUNTS
Spanish papers reported on Sunday that Hamilton, whose paternal grandfather comes from the Caribbean island of Grenada, was booed and insulted by spectators whenever the Briton made his way from the team motorhome and into the pits.
The Sun, Britain’s biggest selling tabloid, splashed the story on its front page on Monday under the headline ‘Vile Taunts at Circuit”.
The paper also published a photograph of a group of spectators dancing in the grandstands while blacked up and wearing wigs and T-shirts with “Hamilton’s Familly” on the front. The back declared “Alonso’s number one fan”.
Hamilton, 23, has become a hate figure in Spain because of his rivalry with former McLaren team mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso, who now drives for Renault.
Alonso complained last season that McLaren were favouring Hamilton and fell out with the Mercedes-powered team when they refused to grant him special status.
Incidents of racism have plagued Spanish sport, in particular football, in recent years with England’s black players abused at a friendly match in Spain in 2004.
Former British Sports Minister Richard Caborn, now leading England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup, said the abuse of Hamilton had to be tackled.
“This is totally unacceptable,” he told the Sun. “I spoke to the Spanish Sports Minister when England players were abused a few years ago. It is disgusting behaviour and has no place in sport.”
Spain is the only country to have two grands prix this year, the Spanish round of the championship at the Circuit de Catalunya in April and the European Grand Prix in Valencia at the end of August.
Formula One’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone has plenty of candidates looking for a slot, however, and has also to accommodate a new race in Abu Dhabi in 2009 with India and South Korea lined up for 2010.
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