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Spain in new F1 racism probe
11 May 2009Formula One's governing body launched an investigation after a blacked-up spectator was spotted yesterday at the circuit where Lewis Hamilton suffered racial abuse last year.
Pictures showed a man with a blacked-up face, arms and hands, wearing a McLaren T-shirt and holding a Formula One style steering wheel among fans at the Circuit de Catalunya.
It comes after an incident during a test session there 15 months ago when a group of people with their faces painted black, wearing curly wigs and T-shirts adorned with the words 'Hamilton's family', caused outrage and prompted the FIA to launch an anti-racism initiative.
Speaking of the latest incident the FIA said: "We are aware of it and we are looking into it."
Former team boss Eddie Jordan said it was "totally and absolutely unacceptable". He added: "I think there is a suspended sentence still hanging over the circuit because the FIA did come down very strongly, and rightly so."
Reader views (4)
to say i was appalled by the way lewis was treated in spain is an understatement, this has got to stop. vast majority of the spanish F1 FANS are decent people who wants to go to f1 race and enjoy the race but there are a few minority that are always looking for trouble. enough is enough i say
- Latoya, Birmingham, England, 15/05/2009 14:05
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What an idiot.....
- Mark, St Albans, 15/05/2009 13:05
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This is Very Very sad to see the hate in some fans hart
Lewis Hamilton will be my hero 4ever.because he is one of a kind. Not every F1 driver can be Spanish.we love Lewis and have nuff respect for him
- L Young, Toronto Canada, 15/05/2009 13:05
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I live in Spain and drove for 7 hours to the Catalunya circuit to watch the F1 race. I also attended last year the same circuit and was totally dismayed at the behaviour of the Spanish people watching the race. They booed, jeered and made every imaginable rude sign when Lewis Hamilton raced by. Even when he was being interviewed or his father was shown on the large screen around the circuit, this was to the total disgust of the Spanish spectators. This outburst was not just from a few louts. I thought this will not happen again, but this year 09 I felt so threatened by the outbursts of the spectators that my husband or I will not be attending this event in the future.
These people need to get into the 21st century for the sake of sport and integration into the real world. I am Irish supporting British competitors, so Spain please get over yourself for the sake of cancellation of future races.
- Lynn Young, Orihuela Costa, Spain, 15/05/2009 13:05
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