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You're joking says Woking | Daily Star Lewis has had to shelve plans to make a victory lap

The Formula One champion longed to say “thank you” to fans in his McLaren team’s home town.

But the ace has had to cancel the trip after civic leaders in Woking, Surrey, refused to foot the £110,000 security bill.
They said it was too high a price to pay to honour Britain’s first black motorsport star.

Councillors blamed the “global economic climate” and health and safety rules for the snub.

A town hall spokesman said: “Provisional costing showed we would need to find up to £110,000 to deliver a safe public event.

“Lewis’ popularity would undoubtedly attract thousands of people and, sadly, we do not have the resources to put the necessary measures in place to fully guarantee their safety.

“Given the council’s financial position and the national and global economic climate, Woking Borough Council is unable to fund an event that would enable members of the public to safely participate in the celebrations.”

But the snub has infuriated motor-racing fans.

One fumed: “These town hall bureaucrats always manage to find the cash when they really want to. It’s a real shame all the youngsters who could be inspired by his example now won’t get a chance to see him in the flesh.

“They should be celebrating the fact they have a record-breaking world champion right here on their doorstep, instead of bean counting and moaning about the cost.”

It was Lewis’ second disappointment this month after he lost out to Olympic cycling gold medallist Chris Hoy in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

In 1998 thousands turned out in Woking to see then world champion Mika Hakkinen celebrate his victory by driving his F1 McLaren through the middle of town.

McLaren declined to comment on Lewis’ cancelled parade.

But one source inside the team said: “It’s tough on him but the council has made its decision and we’ve all got to live with that.”