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Unwelcome guest Intruder makes statement at Hockenheim
HOCKENHEIM, Germany (Reuters) -- A Frenchman protesting against his dismissal by carmaker Mercedes-Benz breached security and crossed the track midway through Sunday's German Grand Prix. The safety car was deployed after 25 laps of the 45 lap race when the man, who had cut his way through a fence, suddenly ran across the track. Police said he was a 47-year-old Frenchman who had worked for Mercedes-Benz, McLaren's Formula One partners, for 22 years before being dismissed for health reasons. The man, whose identity was not disclosed, was wearing a white plastic overcoat, apparently with slogans written on it. The intruder was escorted away by police and remanded in custody. The company running the track, Hockenheim GmbH, said it had brought a charge against him for trespassing. The public prosecutors in the nearby city of Mannheim were to decide on Monday whether to take legal action. “It was obviously very, very dangerous,” said Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn. “The trouble is the public do have access, particularly at a place like this because it is in the forest.” "That should never be allowed to happen again." The safety car went off after the end of lap 27, leaving the race to resume. World champion Mika Hakkinen was then in the lead in a McLaren-Mercedes but he eventually came second in a race won by Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in a Ferrari.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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