Jenson Button in Gun Attack

[VOGUE_MAN]

I'm sure you've all seen this story but I just came across it.

After finally admitting that his 2010 title defence had slipped away, Jenson Button had a terrifying journey from the Interlagos circuit back to his hotel in the Sao Paulo suburb of Morumbi.

A few minutes into the drive in a bullet-proof Mercedes driven by a special armed chauffeur, bandits brandishing machine guns attempted to rob the 2009 world champion and his entourage.

The local driver sped away, smashing into five other cars, but McLaren confirmed that neither Button nor the other passengers - his father, manager and trainer - were hurt.

"My driver was a legend," Button told the Mail on Sunday. "He bounced off about five cars. We were driving over the top of them. It was very scary."

When I started reading this I knew he'd okay but I wasn't expecting machine guns. Does anyone know what kind of car this would have been that he was travelling in? As in S600 Guard or other custom Mercedes?

[NicFromLA]

Might've been an armored GL or G Wagon.

[henk4]

another track off Bernie's list.

[VOGUE_MAN]

I had wondered about an armoured GL or G too. I remember seeing a Fifth Gear or Top Gear video with the 7 Series Security and they were just using it like a battering ram.

[Matra et Alpine]

HUGE money in Brazil and it's a "tiger economy" and let's not forget the oil
Bernie will keep it and in his rationale he'll no doubt quote the World Cup and the Olympics

Have to say it woudl be expected.
I've been driven through Sao Paulo and the first thing is all the doors are locked and the second the car NEVER stood stationary for longer than a couple of minutes. Road signs don't seem to matter most of the time

Brasil do seem to be trying to spend the new money on upgrading/removing the many and large "favelas" ( slums ). So is a hope there long term perhaps .... or do I put too much hope in mankind

[Dino Scuderia]

They may have to move that venue as it seems to sit in the middle of a hell hole.

[Matra et Alpine]

"hell hole" not that fair.

It's a lot of little controlled building for decades and looks chaotic.
Not alot of interest is given by Sao Paulo'ans about the exterior of their property.
But once inside what looks a horribel concrete box they are nice.

Different attitudes
BUT once you're near the "favelas" then it's seriously dangerous.
BUt no worse than some of the districts of big cities I've been in around the world
Jsut the SCALE though.
Was sobering to see a shanty town with no official water or electricity housing >300,000 people in poverty. BIGGER than the city of Edinburgh. Made me feel sad.
Only way out is crime profits.

However, again like all other large cities. Some of it is beautiful and people very nice.

Brazil will likely pass our economies in the next 10-20 years. SO we better be careful what we say as we start the slide down

[roosterjuicer]

BUT once you're near the "favelas" then it's seriously dangerous.

No joke, I remember once, me and my SAS team (led by the venerable soap mctavish) were caught in an ambush there. the enemy had the high ground but we managed to fight our way out. Ultimately I had to jump off a cliff onto a helicopter or something wild like that. Later, the favela became a haven for knife wielding back stabbers.

[Dino Scuderia]

They could at least move it to Mexico City where there's less crime.

[Matra et Alpine]

Classic rooster
I got mugged in Rio and survived Mexico City ( though HP salesman told me he didn't know how not when I told them what I did at the weekend )
'course I've had the same "feedback" in NY, Chicago, Atlanta, LA, SF etc.
Frankfurt was more about the red light district than the ghettos

[DesmoRob]

from Spalding Guardian

Button father's fears after attack


Published on Sun Nov 07 17:56:09 GMT 2010

Jenson Button may have been a deliberate target for the armed gang which threatened the Formula One world champion, his father fears.

Button, his father John, manager Richard Goddard and trainer Mike Collier escaped unharmed following the attack that occurred as they returned to their hotel after qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday night.

Despite the ordeal, Button was ready to race on Sunday but he described the incident as "horrendous".

"You hear about it happening over the years, but until you are actually involved you don't know how it feels, and it's a pretty scary situation," said Button after arriving at the track. "Initially you don't believe it's happening, so it's quite strange.

"But we weren't the only people who had it yesterday. The Sauber mechanics were also held up, and they actually had to stop and give their assailants everything. They had a pretty horrible ordeal, so I feel sorry for those guys.


"As for myself, looking back now, it's an horrendous thing to have happened, although I feel fine now. But there's obviously a lot of attention because it's the first time a driver has been held up. Hopefully it will show the dangers that are there, that we'll take more care."

Button's father, John, fears his son may have been a deliberate target for the gang.

"We're aware of the dangers. We've heard of many, many incidents," said Mr Button, speaking to Press Association Sport.

"But the only thing that really worries me this morning is whether they were after Jense. It was really weird because we were in a very small, compact Mercedes, and they couldn't see in. But it looked like they were waiting for someone. I don't know if someone at the circuit had told them we had left.

"So that's a little bit worrying. Maybe I'm wrong, but yes, it was scary. Our driver, though, was awesome - straight out of Hollywood, the damage he caused. It was unbelievable, just like in a film, like Sylvester Stallone in Rambo. He was really cool, there was a lot of damage. But we're all cool, all fine."

whats a very small compact mercedes? A class, B class, Smart For Four ? haha

[Matra et Alpine]

BY the time the up-armour a road car/SUV for personal protection there's less space insiade than a Smart FourTwo So John maybe just a little confused.

Also dont' see WHY woudl anyone bother to target Jenson
MOre likely as already covered by press, they knew lots of expensive cars with rich contents woudl be leaving the track .....

[DesmoRob]

BY the time the up-armour a road car/SUV for personal protection there's less space insiade than a Smart FourTwo So John maybe just a little confused.

Also dont' see WHY woudl anyone bother to target Jenson
MOre likely as already covered by press, they knew lots of expensive cars with rich contents woudl be leaving the track .....

How much armoring do they put in those things anyway? I thought an armored vehicle had not much more than reinforced body panels and bullet proof glass all around.

[Matra et Alpine]

The serious stuff HP used to use in Mexico was the windows ( non opening ) were about 3 inches thick. There are different levels of protection. I guess I'm picturing McLaren woudl pay for the best going. THAT has serious multiple layers to the doors too.
But, yeah, partly tongue in cheek --- thought the Smart comment woudl have made that clear
Google for Centigon the German company and their range is liekly one of what was used. M-B S-class.

[Savageduck]

The serious stuff HP used to use in Mexico was the windows ( non opening ) were about 3 inches thick. There are different levels of protection. I guess I'm picturing McLaren woudl pay for the best going. THAT has serious multiple layers to the doors too.
But, yeah, partly tongue in cheek --- thought the Smart comment woudl have made that clear
Google for Centigon the German company and their range is liekly one of what was used. M-B S-class.

Kevlar armor is replacing steel in the panels as a weight saving device. Glass is still the major modification area due to the thickness needed to provide high levels of protection.
There seem to be quite a few specialists in that business, in the US, Mexico and Europe. They offer the ability to protect vehicles as unlikely as Mini-Coopers.

https://armoralliance.com/Specifications.htm
http://bulldogdirect.com/
http://www.worldwidearmor.com/