A 22-year-old man who gatecrashed a four hour endurance race at Brands Hatch by driving onto the circuit in a road car has been sentenced to eight months in prison.

Jack Cottle made international news when he drove his girlfriend’s Volkswagen Polo onto the Kent race track illegally during a four hour VW Fun Cup race on June 14.

After pleading guilty to a public nuisance charge, he was sentenced to eight months in prison after appearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday.

“It’s quite clear your actions were premeditated,” Judge Martin Joy told Cottle in court.

“It was deliberate, it was inexcusable.

“Your deliberate behaviour endangered not only your own life but those of your passengers, the competitors, the emergency services, the marshals, the stewards, and anyone else who was nearby.

“The sentence must reflect the need to deter others who might be tempted to act as you did.”

Circuit owner Jonathan Palmer is pleased with the way this incident has been handled by the authorities. The ex-Formula 1 driver hopes the punishment will act as a deterrent.

“I am really pleased that Kent Police and the court have quite rightly taken such a tough stance on this deliberately reckless act, which endangered the lives of the drivers racing on circuit and the volunteer track marshals, not to mention Jack Cottle and his passengers,” said Palmer.

“His idiotic and selfish behaviour – aggravated by his unrepentant attitude in subsequent media coverage – received much immediate condemnation.

“His conviction and prison sentence will serve to reinforce the message that this kind of antisocial behaviour is not only stupid, but will lead to prosecution.”

VIDEO: Track invader interrupts race at Brands Hatch