A Race too few?

Formula One is a global phenomena embracing a mix of culturally and ethnically diverse people at many levels. The paddocks and grandstands of the f1 circus ring with a myriad of accents and some teams can boast members representing 20+ countries. But on closer inspection its hard to ignore the majority of people at F1, whatever their role, are like the first row of paints in a d.i.y shop - varying shades of white. Whereas black sportsmen and women have high profile presence's in almost all top level sports, there has never been a black F1 driver and this is reflected by the noticeably low number of black and Asian people in supporting jobs or as spectators. Reflecting a sad fact of life, there's bound to be racism in some forms in F1 and motorsports in general, but that doesn't make the sport racist. Many in the sport believe it is more a case of black participants aren't kept out, they just don't come in. So why does F1 attract so few black participants?

Sports participation is never an accurate indication of population distribution. During the 1990s, Great Britain had a black population of approximately 2%, yet at the same time 20% of football (soccer) players were black. Whilst black people are often under represented in politics and the professions, their representation in sports is often disproportionately high. This can be partly attributed to the 'natural ability theory' so prevalent in the 1970s when successful black athletes were studied and the results deemed to represent black people en masse as having natural athletic supremacy. Though as out-dated as the sun circling a flat earth, the 'natural ability' of black athletes is a theory which remains strong and in a sense is a self-fulfilling myth. With a wealth of successful role models in sports that are often cheap and accessible, two things motor racing isn't, no wonder so many black youngsters are attracted, and often actively encouraged, to take up such sports as athletics, football and boxing. Like golf before it, F1 is waiting for that first black star to break the mould and be an inspiration for a whole new generation.

Whilst Africa has had a World Champion, South African Jody Schekter, like the other 15 South African drivers to start a GP he was white and raced at a time when black South Africans were not able to spectate at 'their' home race due to the apartheid system. Formula One was one of the last sports to withdraw from competing in South Africa as sporting boycotts became a form of international protest against the apartheid system in the 1980s. To date, Asia has only been represented by Japanese drivers with the exception of Prince Birabongse Bhanutej Bhanubandh, a member of the Siam (now Thailand) Royal family, who raced under the pseudonym 'B Bira', posting a best finish of 4^th at the French Grand Prix of 1954. The emergence of Japanese drivers is indicative of a crucial factor for nurturing new talent - finance. With Japan's internationally successful automotive and technical industries, Japanese drivers benefit from the financial backing this brings and a competitive domestic racing series. Formula One drivers are made, not born, working their way up the motor racing heirarchy with talent, determination and luck. Aspiring drivers from poorer countries or areas with few motor racing facilitates face the extra barrier and financial strain of moving to where the competitive series are, usually Europe. This is the route young Asian hopefuls such as Indian, Narain Karthikeyan and Malaysian, Alex Yoong have taken in their bid to be Asia's next Formula One star.

The hopes for a first black F1 driver seemed closer than ever when Jason Watt, the London born son of a Danish mother and Jamaican father, was runner-up in the 1999 International F3000 Championship. When Nigerian, Prince Malik Ado Ibrahim led a consortium to buy a 70% stake in the Arrows F1 team he made it clear one of his aims was to encourage black participation. Prince Malik hoped Jason would benefit from his scheme with an Arrows F1 test. Whilst some may deem such schemes as this, and the African American Drivers Program in the US, as politically correct pacifiers and show, in a report Jason honestly admitted "If this is the way for me to get into an F1 car, then I'm all for it". Sadly, at the end of 1999 during a magazine photo shoot, Jason suffered a motorcycle accident which has left him paralysed from the waist down. Jason is committed to remaining in motorsports and has announced he hopes to race an adapted saloon car in the future. Prince Malik's flirtation with F1 was brief as after just seven months he stepped down from the Arrows board and the 'race debate' he'd briefly awakened went back into dormancy.

Drivers are the shop window mannequins of F1 but what of the supporting roles and spectators? When Prince Malik visited races he noted rarely seeing another black face, a situation echoed by spectator Jon Tharmasingam. Born in Britain to Sri Lankan parents, Jon cuts a noticeable figure at races and notes "as a whole, I have never seen many black or ethnic supporters at races". Being conspicuous has its advantages and disadvantages. Whilst he has experienced the odd racial taunt at races this has been the exception rather than the rule and as he says, "I've experienced a lot worse in day to day life, but it never ceases to amaze me that even at a sporting event, people have to get nasty about the colour of a man's skin or his accent". Indeed, the issue isn't simply black and white (sic) - if someone is set to taunt race, nationality, sexuality all become easy targets. Conversely, Jon's noticed the plus of being different when Michael Schumacher's physiotherapist Balbir Singh introduced himself. "Balbir asked which country I came from , which funnily enough is always is a good conversational point" remembers Jon. Mixing his Eastern training with Western traditional physiotherapy, Indian born Balbir is a familiar face to millions of F1 viewers and one of few Asians working in the sport. For Jon and Balbir both coming from an Asian background meeting at an F1 race must have been akin to two needles finding one another in a haystack. Whilst Jon has never questioned F1 as being a 'white' or 'non-black' sport he does notice he makes a subconscious mental note when he sees Balbir as the television cameras do their sweep of the pre-race grid and would like to see more black and ethnic participation. To encourage more black participation wouldn't just be a social reflection but good business. An emergent black middle class means an area of untapped disposable income - two words which make the powers that be salivate. A more racially diverse grid would open up yet more pockets of global interest and parts of Western societies so far untouched by the allure of motor racing and its associates.

Jon's interest in motor racing has seeped yet further into his leisure as he's become an enthusiastic amateur karter; another area where he sees few other black participants, especially adults. Like spectating at motorsports, karting doesn't seem to attract many black people and this is the area FIA President Max Mosley believes will produce the first black competitors. Young black karter Lewis Hamilton has already been tipped as 'the next big thing'. Karting is the kindergarten of Formula One and if it becomes a recreational focus for young, black people no doubt the talent will emerge. Whoever the first black driver is, black journalist and F1 fan, Tony Thompson has written his belief they will have to be an exceptional talent, with poise both on and off the track as they will attract that extra bit of scrutiny. Whether they want to be or not they will be the blueprint and role model that determines those who follows. The irony is, the first black driver will have to be 'whiter, than white'.

© Rebecca Hobbs

(c)RH PR 2007