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July 20th marks the anniversary of one of F1’s most surreal moments as an ‘Irish priest’ invaded the track during the British Grand Prix.
In Formula 1, track invasions during grands prix are rare occurrences but have been witnessed over the years. Examples include a fan running across the track in China during free practice, believing they could drive the cars, and a protest group invading the Silverstone track in 2021 but the race had been suspended due to a crash.
One of the most notable track invasions happened at Silverstone 22 years ago today when a man ran onto the track during the race, prompting the safety car deployment. The intruder, identified as a former Irish priest named Neil Horan, was charged with trespassing and served two months in prison.
Horan was involved in other high-profile incidents like affecting the result of the 2004 Men’s Olympic marathon by pushing the leader into the crowd and being arrested at the 2006 FIFA World Cup final for planning a protest.
His actions led to his removal from the UK talent show Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 after his true identity was revealed, showing his history of disruptive behaviors in various public events.
