TNT Sports
Reporter true to his word
By
Published 10/07/2005 at 16:41 GMT+1
Two years after a kilted Irish priest ran out on to the track and caused havoc at the British Grand Prix, a naked Scot jogged out in front of 100,000 fans on Sunday, but on this occasion, the marshals not only restrained from removing him from the track but actually paid him to continue!
Eurosport
Image credit: TNT Sports
The man, Daily Express journalist Bob McKenzie, was in fact running for charity because of a statement made at the start of the 2004 season when he declared that he'd run naked around Silverstone if the Mercedes-powered team won a race that year.
When Finland's Kimi Raikkonen won the Belgian Grand Prix, team boss Ron Dennis demanded the Scot honour his word. "I'm not completely heartless," Dennis had declared. "He's allowed to wear his trainers".
A smiling Dennis was at the start line at Silverstone, two hours before the start of the race, brandishing a green flag to wave the reporter on his way. Wearing no more than body paint in McLaren's colours, and a traditional sporran to cover his modesty, McKenzie was as good as his word.
After several shortcuts across the grass, he crossed the finish line to kiss the asphalt in relief with a time of 36 minutes.
"I've honoured the challenge," said McKenzie, whose effort raised thousands of pounds for a childrens' charity. "Even on the way round, marshals were coming up and giving money. I was hoping that they would arrest me but they kept saying 'Go on, go on.'"
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