PlanetF1

Valencia: Think about the Spanish fans

Tuesday 28-July-2009 05:49

European GP organisers have urged the FIA to overturn the one-race suspension handed down to Renault following Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Regie were suspended from next month's race, to be held on Valencia's street circuit, after the right-front wheel came off Fernando Alonso's car at the Hungaroring and bounced away to the side of the track.

The Spaniard had been leading the race and Valencia organisers are worried that fans who have already bought tickets to watch the double World Champion in action will miss out.

"We believe that (while safety is the priority) it is also necessary to think of the fans," Valmor Sport vice-president Jorge Martinez Aspar said.

"As everyone knows, many of them have bought tickets to see Fernando Alonso race in Valencia. We don't think they should be the ones to pay for this decision.

"It would be a shame if he wasn't in the race and we are confident he could be there, although we recognise it will be difficult after all the other incidents that happened last weekend."

Race stewards ruled that Renault had released Alonso from a pit stop knowing that the wheel was not properly secured and then failing to tell the driver.

The incident came a week after 18-year-old Briton Henry Surtees died in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch after being struck by a loose wheel bouncing across the track.

It also followed the incident in qualifying at the Hungaroring on Saturday in which Ferrari's Felipe Massa suffered serious head injuries after he was hit on the helmet by a spring which had fallen from compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn.

Adrian Campos, boss of new Formula One team Campos Meta, said the decision was a "disaster" for Valencia.

"If things were already not going well for the Valencia Grand Prix this was just what they were missing," he said.

Renault have already said they will appeal against the stewards' decision.

Related Links
Renault appeal Valencia ban