How ironic that he's black

[Wizzo]

The Spanish Motorsport Federation president managed to play the race card in a suitably crass fashion yesterday, just days before he will be the guest of the McLaren team at Interlagos, by telling Publico newspaper how ironic he found it that a racist country such as Britain was relying on a black driver, Lewis Hamilton, to win the world championship.

"It is perfectly normal for a British team and British fans wanting to succeed in formula one but it is ironic that the racists in England are having to rely on a coloured pilot," said Carlos Gracia .

Gracia will be a guest of McLaren at the final race in Brazil as the team attempts to quell rumours that it is interfering with Fernando Alonso's title campaign.

It was Gracia who urged FIA president Max Mosley to send an official observer to the McLaren garage to ensure Spain’s Fernando Alonso had equal treatment.

“If McLaren don’t have anything to hide it does not matter if they have a commissioner checking everything,” said Gracia. His federation had concerns that Alonso had been “badly prejudiced” by the team.

[cosworth151]

Somebody send that jerk a DVD of that new movie about Elizabeth I and the armada.

[Steven Roy]

Sounds like this idiot is applying for Max's job.  He has the first two qualifications.  He is biased and able to speak complete garbage with conviction.

UEFA the european football governing body have taken action against a few Spanish clubs because their fans abuse black players.  Particularly Samuel Eto'o of Barcelona.  That behaviour with minor exceptions ended in Britain in the 70s. 

[rmassart]

UEFA the european football governing body have taken action against a few Spanish clubs because their fans abuse black players.  Particularly Samuel Eto'o of Barcelona.  That behaviour with minor exceptions ended in Britain in the 70s. 

Well... let's not get too comfy. I would say that behaviour ended in the UK in the early 90s at best and would be back in a flash if the clubs ever relax their current policies. I remember the abuse Jason Lee got for his haircut after Skinner and Badiel had finished with him. Most fans chanting the abuse will have thought "it's only a joke", but that's what most of those chanting racist chants will also be saying.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Lee_(footballer)

But Gracia's comments are despicable and if he were the president of the British Motorsport Federation he would surely have to resign after such comments.

[raindancer]

He says he was mis quoted and his statement lost its essence because of Translation !!

[FW14B]

Sorry but he is bound to say that.  I've read in the press today the paper he spoke to claim to have recordings of this discussion and so can prove he did say what they attribute to him as having said.

[Wizzo]

F1 driver Johnny Herbert has comented "These comments are just outrageous," "What a very strange thing to say."

Garcia subsequently claimed his comment was misinterpreted.

"What I meant was England has been looking for a Formula One idol for years," he said, "and no matter who he was they were going to give him all their support (and) there was no racist element to what I said."