Valencia tells FIA to think of the fans

The French squad will not be able to race in Spain in three weeks time after the Hungarian GP stewards deemed the team had allowed its star driver Fernando Alonso to leave the pitlane with a dangerously loose wheel.

Renault has appealed the decision, but it could mean thousands of Spanish fans who had bought tickets to see Alonso are likely to miss the two-time champion.

The decision will also be a big hit for the race organisers, who had already announced they were reducing the seat capacity for this year's event.

Jorge Martinez Aspar, vice-president of Valmor Sport, said he understood that the FIA is putting safety first, but he says the fans should not be hurt by its decision.

"We believe it (the FIA) must also think of the fans and, as everybody knows, a lot of them have bought tickets to see Fernando Alonso racing in Valencia," Aspar told the EFE news agency.

"We believe they must not be the ones paying for this decision.

"We are going to be looking closely at the verdict of the appeal and we have been in contact with the Spanish Federation, with the Renault team, and with Fernando Alonso's people. We would like to have him on the grid in the Valencia grand prix.

"It would be a shame if he missed the race and we are confident that he will be able to race, although we know it will be hard especially considering the other accidents that took place over the weekend.

"What happened is serious, but we hope it doesn't hurt the European Grand Prix or the fans."

EFE also quoted Campos Meta1 team boss Adrian Campos as saying that Alonso's absence from the race would be "a disaster."

"If things were already not going well for the Valencia grand prix, this is just what was needed," said Campos.