A class action lawsuit was filed against Formula One’s Las Vegas Grand Prix this week after fans were forced to miss the first two practice sessions.
Spanish racing driver Carlos Sainz’s racing car was damaged during the first practice session on Thursday when it hit a manhole cover and the session was suspended after just nine minutes.
The second training session consequently started two and a half hours later than planned (02:30 instead of midnight) after track officials had to repair the damaged manhole cover and check everything else on the track.
The delayed second training session ended up taking place in front of empty pavilions after spectators had to leave the ground as the staff on duty had by then reached the end of their legal working hours.
F1 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix offered $200 consolation prize vouchers to fans who bought single-session tickets for Thursday, but that did not cover the expenses of spectators who attended as part of multi-day packages.
As a result, a class action lawsuit was filed in Nevada District Court on Friday.
Five individuals have been identified as plaintiffs in the suit. They claim compensation and general damages.
“We will fight for the rights of the fans who traveled great distances and paid a small fortune to attend, but were deprived of the experience,” says Steve Dimopoulos of the law firm Dimopoulos in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A spokesman for Formula One has since confirmed the class action to AFP, but did not comment further.
“Our priority is to ensure that our fans have an entertaining experience in a safe environment,” said a spokesperson for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
