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F1's Spaniards 'not aware' of anti-racism campaign |
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
Apr.25 (GMM) F1's two prominent Spanish drivers said they were not even aware that the governing body was going to launch an anti-racism campaign at the Barcelona circuit.
The FIA on Thursday kicked off 'EveryRace'; a reaction to the ugly scenes of racism, directed towards black driver Lewis Hamilton, by a small section of the crowd at a February winter test here.
The governing body distributed to the press a selection of quotes in which eleven prominent members of the paddock - including officials, drivers and bosses - endorsed the campaign.
Notably missing from the named backers, however, was former double world champion Fernando Alonso, and his countryman Pedro de la Rosa, who is a Catalonian local.
"I was not aware," said Alonso, the immensely popular Spanish driver who the offending racists in February claimed to be his biggest fans.
The 26-year-old said he was confident that the Circuit de Catalunya would never again be the scene of racism.
"This weekend it will be ok and it will always be ok here. Everybody will be able to see that," Alonso added.
De la Rosa, McLaren's 37-year-old primary test driver, was also asked by the press on Thursday about the 'EveryRace' campaign.
"I don't really know what to say," he replied.
"I was not aware of this campaign or anything, to be honest.
"All I can say is that the Spanish people will show to the world how good they are this weekend, and how good historically they've been.
"We've never had any problems here before and we will never have (again). Wait and see," de la Rosa added.
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