Standing Tall: Israeli Racer Defies Spanish Antisemitism at Formula 3 Race

In a tense confrontation at a Formula 3 championship in Spain, Israeli driver Ariel Elkin, 18, was forced to strip his helmet and car of symbols supporting Israeli hostages, deemed “political” by race organizers. The high school senior from Haifa, who adorned his gear with hostage photos, an Israeli flag, and a “Bring Them Home” emblem, faced an ultimatum: remove the symbols or be barred from the track. Defiant yet determined, Elkin competed, finishing fifth with the flag still on his racing suit, calling the ordeal “one of the most painful things I’ve experienced,” as reported by Israel Hayom.

Elkin, a standout in motorsport, began racing at eight, won Italy’s karting championship in 2022, and earned Israel’s first bronze at the 2023 Motorsport Games World Championship. Now competing in the USF Pro 2000 league, he’s a rising star with ambitions of Formula 1. Off the track, he sees himself as an advocate for Israel, consistently displaying the flag and raising awareness about hostages since the war’s onset. “It’s my way of showing my identity without words, especially where they might not want to hear it,” he told i24NEWS. “The flag is the heart of every race I run.”

At the October 2024 Motorsport Games in Valencia, Elkin’s helmet, featuring hostage images, and his car, marked with Israel’s flag, drew immediate scrutiny. Organizers ordered the symbols removed before practice, tearing stickers off his vehicle and citing their “political” nature. “They didn’t let me explain,” Elkin said. On day two, his helmet was banned outright after inspection. “That helmet has been with me since the war started. It felt like they stole part of my identity,” he added.

Despite the restrictions, Elkin raced on. After clocking the fastest practice time, he was controversially demoted to a 12th-place start, a move he called “unprecedented” and “baseless,” noting no other drivers faced similar checks. His team and local staff criticized the decision, but competitors stayed silent. Elkin rallied, climbing to seventh in the semifinal and finishing fifth in the final. “They took nearly all the symbols, but not my spirit,” he said. “The flag stayed on me, and that was enough.”

Set to begin military service as a distinguished athlete after the season ends in August, Elkin aims for Formula 2 next, with Formula 1 as his ultimate goal, vowing to carry Israel’s flag to the podium. He also urged more support for motorsport in Israel, where the sport remains underdeveloped despite planned 2025 budget allocations. “We athletes fight for every race,” he said. “Standing with the flag is pride and a message.”