The war in Ukraine that started a few days ago continues to create chain reactions even in the world of motorsport. Yesterday the FIA announced that it had canceled the Russian Grand Prix, but that it had not banned the Russian and Belarusian drivers, who will be able to race without doing so under the flag of their respective countries.
Today, however, two motorsport federations from the Old Continent have taken a much stronger and more rigid position than that made official late yesterday by the International Automobile Federation.
The UK Motorsport Federation and the Finnish Federation (AKK Motorsport) have announced that they have taken drastic measures against Russian and Belarusian drivers with the specific intent of putting pressure on the two governments that attacked Ukraine just last week and continue in the war against the country that acts as a watershed between the NATO countries and Russia.
“The entire British Motorsport community condemns the war actions by Russia and Belarus in Ukraine and expresses its solidarity and support for all those affected by the ongoing conflict,” said the statement published this morning by the Motorsport Federation. UK.
“We are united with the Ukrainian people and with the motorsport community after the invasion and the unacceptable actions that took place. This is the time for the international motorsport community to act and show support to the people of Ukraine and our colleagues from the Ukrainian Automobile Federation ”.
“It is our duty to use whatever influence and means we have to stop this completely unwarranted invasion of Ukraine. We would like to encourage the motorsport community and our colleagues around the world to fully embrace the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee and do everything possible to end this war. “
“The British Federation is united with Leonid Kostyuchenko, the president of the Ukrainian Federation, the Ukrainian motoring community and the Ukrainian people and calls for the violence to end with a peaceful resolution”.
The short press release released this morning by the AKK-Motorsport Association, or by the motorsport federation of Finland, is also very clear. “AKK supports the recommendations of the Finnish Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee to completely exclude Russia and Belarus from international sporting activities.”
“AKK has also decided that Russian and Belarusian licensees – athletes and administrators – will be completely excluded from Finnish motorsport competitions.”
“In addition, the participation of AKK licensees – athletes and officials – in motorsport competitions in Russia and Belarus is prohibited. AKK shares the deep concern of both the COF and the IOC for Ukraine and its people. The whole world of sport. he must show his unity and do everything in his power to end Russia’s hostilities in Ukraine. “
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