MSA Launch Investigation on Track Intrusion

The British Motor Sports Association (MSA) said they will launch an investigation to shed some light into the incident that saw a man intruding the Silverstone circuit during the British Grand Prix.

The race was thrown into confusion on lap 12 when the protestor - seemingly dressed as former World Champion Jackie Stewart - appeared on the track, trotting down the middle of Hangar Straight as cars roared past at about 200 km/h.

Waving placards, he made a movement towards one speeding car before being bundled to the ground by a marshal as the safety car came out for the second time in the race.

"Following an incident at the British Grand Prix today, a 56 year-old man has been arrested in connection with an offence of aggravated tresspass and will be interviewed by the police in Northampton later today," said the MSA in a statement.

"A full investigation was launched immediately and Silverstone will provide its full support to the Motor Sport Association, the national governing body of motor sport in the UK, who will be conducting the investigation. There is no further information at this time. An update will be issued in due course."

Cars accelerate to a maximum of 300 km/h on the Hangar Straight. The danger was that as the man got closer to the curve, the drivers had less time to react.

"Anyone who does something like that has to be really severely punished," said Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug, recalling the 2000 German Grand Prix when a disgruntled former Mercedes employee walked onto the track.

"There could have been a mass pileup there and fans could have been hurt as well. Something has to be done. This simply can't happen again."

The protest came against a backdrop of bickering over Silverstone's future between Stewart, president of the British Racing Drivers' Club that owns Silverstone, and Formula One bosses Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone.

"The safety people will have a look at it. It means that the security wasn't good. I don't know how he actually got on, that's what we need to look at," Ecclestone said.