22/05/2010
NEWS STORY
Lewis Hamilton has been officially charged in relation to the incident which took place over the weekend of the Australian Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver was stopped by police after allegedly performing donuts and a fishtail as he left the circuit on the Friday evening after free practice.
While the Englishman was questioned at the time, and the AMG Mercedes he was driving subsequently impounded, it was unclear whether he would be officially charged.
Such antics are known as "hooning" in Melbourne, and following a spate of deaths the police are cracking down.
One local resident, whose 17-year-old son was killed in such an incident, is delighted that the 2008 champion has been charged. "He has to follow very strict rules and guidelines on the track and he does follow them," Penny Martin told the Herald Sun. "It's good he has to face up to the charges."
Transport Accident Commission Minister Tim Holding is also delighted that Hamilton is being charged, pointing out that the law applies to everyone. "There are those who said that our hoon driving laws make us a nanny state," he said. "I reject this completely as our hoon driving laws are making Victorian roads safer. Lewis Hamilton reminds us that these laws apply to everyone no matter who they are. I am pleased that he has acknowledged that he is embarrassed."
It is unclear whether Hamilton, who has been charged with intentionally losing control of a vehicle, will attend the hearing which has been set for August 24, four days before the Belgian GP weekend gets underway.