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Hate mail for Hamilton the space tourist
Tom Worden02.12.08
Lewis Hamilton's decision to become a space tourist has resulted in a fresh barrage of racist abuse from Spanish racing fans.
The Formula One champion, 23, reportedly plans to take girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and three members of his family on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic airline.
Hamilton, whose career earnings are expected to top £625 million, will splash out £625,000 on the tickets.
But the revelation sparked a wave of abuse from Spanish F1 fans, who have a long-standing hatred of the first-ever black F1 champion.
News and sports websites, including that of the sports daily Marca, were bombarded with hate-fuelled messages today. "Please [can] he and his daddy stay in orbit forever," wrote one user.
The Virgin Galactic space tours are due to begin in 2010.
Reader views (3)
Manny if you had looked into the story in any detail you would know that there were many racist comments posted, things that don't need repeating here.
And "white, yellow or red" there is no need for comments like that about anyone.
Plus as far as I see it there is no rivalry; just one current world champion and a racer who's words speak far louder than his recent actions 
- Anon., -
Well, this is really amazing, you guys talking about racism. That makes me laugh a lot. This kind of comments, as the one of the "orbit forever", has nothing to do with racism, but with the rivalry that exist between Alonso and Hamilton. Is as simple as that. If Hamilton were white, yellow or red, they will say just the same.
But that's very hard for you to understand. I don't know what a heck are you looking for, but is a kind of nasty. Let Spain in peace.
Manny - Hate nobody (but has pity for someones)
- Manny Lo, Barcelona, Spain
You all know there are some people in Spain who do not
like black people but still the people of Spain can't do
with out blacks in their sports.
- Hate Spain, Toronto Canada
