Formula One: ‘Crazed’ fan invades track at Chinese GP
A track invader sparked a security panic during Friday’s (April 10) free practice at the Chinese Grand Prix after climbing over the pit wall.
He demanded to test drive a Ferrari.
The fan scaled a fence and risked disaster by running across the tarmac in between the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson and Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India before vaulting the pit wall and walking calmly towards the Ferrari garage.
Waving his ticket, he shouted “I’ve got a ticket, I want a car!” before being tackled by stewards and handed over to the police, a race official told AFP.
The official confirmed that security would be beefed up after the incident in Shanghai.
According to the official, the man “appeared crazed rather than drunk”, pointing out that climbing the main grandstand fence, negotiating cars travelling at 250kmh and jumping over the pit wall would require both strength and coordination.
The fan was bundled into a police car after being apprehended, still in an agitated state, he added.
The security breach evoked memories of the 2003 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, when defrocked Catholic priest Neil Horan marched onto the track during the race, forcing drivers to swerve out of the way and bringing out the safety car.
Before that a former Mercedes employee, miffed at being sacked, hopped over safety barriers to invade the track at the 2001 German Grand Prix in Hockenheim.
Source: AFP
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now