At IVRA, we set out to create a sporting environment where any driver is able to achieve the results they deserve. At IVRA, we set out to create a community where any of these drivers are able to have a voice. At IVRA, we do not discriminate against people of any nationality, race, background, religion, gender and/or sexual attraction. At IVRA, the only thing that sets people apart is the stopwatch.
Anyone who participates in an IVRA-sanctioned event is expected to subscribe to the above values. This means that even if things get heated after an incident, the language used should never be racially charged, homophobic, or discriminatory in any other form. The words used should be chosen with consideration of the above values – no one will be excused from their behaviour for lack of emotional control and the influence that emotions may have on your discretion.
After the 6 Hrs of Spa, we were notified by one team of particularly unsavoury comments sent from another team. The language used in these comments included homophobic slurs. This is the kind of language we refer to above. The team in question has been reprimanded and the team member in question is on their final warning before they are banned from further participation in any IVRA-sanctioned event.
We believe that understanding and education does more to achieve the goals outlined above than simply banning every infraction of our values. By first issuing warnings we hope to ameliorate behaviour and facilitate a moment of introspection and growth. With that being said, this message also serves as a warning to all teams that any language as described above is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any IVRA-sanctioned events or forums related to IVRA.
You are free to communicate with other drivers as you wish, but should understand that any member of our community is responsible for their own words and actions. We have no desire to police conduct or interfere in the communications between teams in this manner, but if we must then we will. We sincerely hope there is no need for us to step in again.
Series Organisers