Karting: Russian Karter gives Nazi salute on podium, license now revoked (Update)

The Italian Automobile Club has revoked the racing license of Russian karter Artem Severiukhin following the controversy over his alleged Nazi salute on the podium of a European championship event.

Severiukhin’s team Ward Racing also announced the termination of his contract after the video of the incident emerged online.

On Tuesday, the ACI announced its decision to revoke Severiukhin’s license, labelling his gesture as “unspeakable and unacceptable”.

“During the extraordinary meeting of the Sports Council of the Automobile Club of Italy – convened to take urgent measures following the unspeakable and unacceptable gesture of the Russian kart driver Artem Severiukhin, on the podium of the European junior kart race in Portimao – is still in progress, we learn that the Board itself has decided the immediate withdrawal of Severiukhin’s sports license and has, at the same time, referred him to the Sports Justice so that it can evaluate the definition of further sanctions that fall within its own sphere of competence,” the Italian body said in a statement.

“Severiukhin has shown a lack of respect not only for the universal values that have always inspired every sport, but also for humanity, dignity and civil coexistence.”

The statement added: “Severiukhin had obtained the Italian license, as foreseen by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) regulations, which allow young drivers of any nationality the widest freedom of movement among International Federations, in order to allow them to grow professionally in those countries – such as Italy – which have a great tradition in motorsport training and in starting drivers to become professionals.

“Our country, in particular, has always been the most important in the world as far as karting is concerned, as demonstrated by the fact that in 2021 alone, 355 foreign drivers of the most varied nationalities obtained an Italian sports license for this discipline.”

The FIA has confirmed it has launched an investigation into Russian karter Artem Severiukhin for making what has been described as a Nazi salute at an OK Karting Championship round in Portugal.

Severiukhin, who is competing under an Italian license after a ban on Russian drivers from FIA competition, won the opening round of the 2022 FIA Karting European Championship in the OK category.

На чемпіонаті світу з картингу росіянин Артем Северюхін продемонстрував нацистське вітання. Вимагаємо пожиттєвої дискваліфікації.

Russian Artem Severiukhin showed a nazi salute at the World Karting Championship. We demand lifelong disqualification. @fia @fiakarting how are you? pic.twitter.com/eVH6dMnEeP

— Freel (@FreelFreel) April 10, 2022