Reaction to RFEA's findingsFollowing incidents which occurred during Formula One testing at the Circuit de Catalunya on February 1st and 2nd 2008, the Real Federacion Espanola de Automovilismo (RFEA) presented a comprehensive report to the FIA.
The report included
a detailed chronology of events in which the RFEA confirmed that a very small number of spectators amongst the 35,000 attending the test had displayed racist behaviour.
The FIA is grateful to the RFEA and the Catalunyan circuit authorities for their effective and efficient response to this situation. The FIA has monitored the measures recommended and implemented since February and has noted that no further such incidents have occurred.
The FIA agrees with the RFEA assessment that the people involved in these incidents were “not at all representative of the thousands of people who enjoy a convivial atmosphere and the spectacle offered by motor sport.”
The FIA and the RFEA are committed to the principle of sport open to all. In order to further promote this fundamental principle the FIA has launched the EveryRace campaign.
With the support of the Formula One community the launch of the EveryRace campaign sends a message that discrimination and prejudice can have no place in sport or in society.
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
“Since I started in motor racing I’ve worked with people from all over the world. We are all here to go racing and prejudice will never play any part in that.”
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes
“I believe that motor sport, like all other sports, is about freedom of expression in the pursuit of competition and excellence. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Felipe Massa, Ferrari
“The whole Formula One community should get behind this campaign. Formula One is a global sport and we should use it to promote equality wherever we can.”
Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren Mercedes
“We should celebrate the diversity in motor sport. I am proud to be part of the global community that makes up Formula One.”
David Coulthard, Red Bull Racing
“Ever since I’ve been old enough to understand the meaning of the word racism, I’ve known it is wrong. For racism to exist in 2008 is totally unacceptable. This worthwhile campaign from the FIA shines a spotlight on something that sensible people everywhere should take for granted.”
Max Mosley, FIA President
“One thing that most attracted me to motor sport was that nobody cared about your background, race, gender or religion; all that mattered was how quick you were.”
Bernie Ecclestone, CEO Formula One Management
“The sport is all about a driver’s ability and this will never have anything to do with their race or the colour of their skin.”
Flavio Briatore, Managing Director Renault F1 Team
“The EveryRace campaign launched by the FIA is a great means to raise awareness. Formula One is a global and multi-racial sport, there is no place for prejudice. The ING-Renault F1 Team is proud to take part in this initiative.”
Ron Dennis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer McLaren Group
“We applaud the FIA’s decision to launch an anti-racism campaign and we will support it in whatever way we can.”
Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes Benz Motor Sport
"We confirm our positive and emphatic commitment to diversity and equality. Discrimination and any form of racism cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. Such behaviour is unacceptable in everyday life, in professional life and in the world of sport."
Christian Horner, Team Principal Red Bull Racing
“We applaud the FIA’s efforts. Racism has no part to play in any sport, let alone motor racing.”
FIA
