» F1 community supports NZ earthquake relief

The thoughts of the Richard’s F1 team and the broader F1 community lie with our friends – and many readers – in New Zealand, with the country’s second-biggest city seemingly flattened by its second major earthquake in less than six months today.

At least sixty-five people were killed in the city of Christchurch today when a magnitude 6.3 quake struck the city, which has been suffering continuous aftershocks after a magnitude 7.1 quake hit the city in September last year.

This second major quake has caused extensive damage across the city, flattening buildings and causing tremendous devastation in what has been described as one of the country’s “darkest days” by its Prime Minister, John Key, who also declared a state of emergency.

Relief aid – mostly in the form of professional rescue personnel from Australia and Japan – is already en route, and the fundraising effort has already kicked in to help those who have been displaced and devastated by this tragedy.

Certainly the F1 community is not immune from this latest incident, with noted F1 journalist Eoin Young – a resident Lyttleton, a town near Christchurch that was also savaged by the quake – affected but fortunately uninjured, according to an update from fellow F1 journalist Maurice Hamilton.

McLaren driver Jenson Button has offered his sympathies and thoughts to his New Zealand fans who have been affected, and wrote on his Twitter feed: “My thoughts go out to all the people affected by the terrible earthquake in New Zealand. Please be strong in this very difficult time.”

The Briton later posted web links for Red Cross New Zealand and the Salvation Army in order for his followers to pledge donations to the relief effort.