Russian Karting Champion Dropped By Ward Racing After ‘Nazi Salute’ On Podium
Karter Artem Severiukhin won the race in the OK category at the Portuguese round of the FIA European Karting Championship on Sunday, followed by a Nazi display on the podium. The fifteen-year-old driver thumped his chest twice before raising an open palm- a gesture that mimics the Nazi salute.
Despite being a Russian, Karter is competing under an Italian license. What’s worse is that he did the ‘Nazi act’ on the podium when the Italian National Anthem was being played. The gesture has been banned in Italy since 1952.
The matter gets even worse as the gesture could be a reference to the war between Russia and Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin justifies as a ‘de-Nazification’ exercise.
#Russian driver Artyom Severyukhin, competing under the Italian flag at the #European Junior Karting Championship, showed a #Nazi salute at the awards ceremony.
He competing under the #Italian flag because of the sanctions imposed on #Russia. pic.twitter.com/q4wOGHPsvR
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) April 11, 2022
Action has already been taken against Karter as he has been dropped by Ward Racing which made a public statement stating its condemnation of the gesture in every way, and that it was solely the driver’s decision to sport such an act.
Karter, however, has claimed that his gesture wasn’t intended to be a Nazi salute and that he is against Naziism and Fascism. He posted a video on social media saying:
“I want to apologise to everyone for what happened yesterday in the European Karting Championship”.
This is why @fia #karting should ban Russian participants under any flag. Also disciplinary sanctions are appropriate here, I suggest to take his price away and suspend him from participating in championships for the next, 10 years? #Nazi #Russian #Racing #Sports pic.twitter.com/JzwwTrvkXi
— 🌍🇪🇺 Edward Catel 🌻🌷 (@edwardcatel) April 11, 2022
“Standing on the podium, I made a gesture that may be perceived as a Nazi salute. This is not true. I have never supported Nazi-ism and consider it one of the worst crimes against humanity.”
“But I raced under the Italian licence and the Italian flag, and the guys in front of the podium showed me that in Italy, in such cases, it is not customary to hit yourself on the chest in the heart area.”
“I just wanted to make the gesture and how everything else happened, I cannot explain.”
“I know that I am a fool and I am ready to be punished but please, believe that there was no intention in my actions, there was no support of Nazi-ism, of fascism.
“There was no desire to offend spectators, fans or the team. (To) all those that were watching the broadcast, excuse me.”
NEWS | 🇷🇺 Russian karting driver Artem Severiukhin has reacted on Telegram to the incident where he allegedly did a Nazi salute on the podium after a karting race. pic.twitter.com/lmY8aMgLQQ
— Feeder Series (@feeder_series) April 11, 2022
While the turn of events does seem unfortunate. Is it possible that the gesture by Karter was a mere coincidence that he did out of his innocence but caught heat at the wrong moment given the Russia Ukraine war?
Or, was the gesture was done deliberately to support wrongdoings? A detailed investigation might reveal the truth.
Here’s the video of him on the podium:
#Russian driver Artyom Severyukhin, competing under the Italian flag at the #European Junior Karting Championship, showed a #Nazi salute at the awards ceremony.
He competing under the #Italian flag because of the sanctions imposed on #Russia. pic.twitter.com/q4wOGHPsvR
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) April 11, 2022
