03/11/2015
NEWS STORY
A British national who walked on to the track during Singapore Grand Prix has been jailed for six weeks.
Yogvitam Pravin Dhokia walked on to the track during the race, leader Sebastian Vettel alerting officials over the team radio.
"There's a man on the track, there's a man on the track," cried the German, race officials subsequently deploying the Safety Car for the second time that afternoon.
Though bail was offered, Dhokia, who was charged with committing a "rash act" in that he endangered the personal safety of the drivers, said he had spent all his money travelling to Singapore for the race and could not afford the surety.
Today, the 27-year-old was jailed for six weeks, his act described not only as rash but "selfish and foolhardy" by District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt.
"Any dangerous intrusion onto the race track can and could have resulted in disastrous and fatal consequences," said the judge.
Dhokia's lawyer admitted that whilst his client's actions were "a childish endeavour" he had not intended to disrupt the race or spoil the spectacle for fans.
Dhokia's six week sentence, of course, rules him out as official track invader in Abu Dhabi should the season finale need enlivening.