Mount Panorama might be one of the world’s most iconic race tracks, but one Australian motorist has been reminded the hard way that it’s a public road for most of the year.
Bathurst Highway Patrol officers yesterday detected a Maserati Ghibli being driven at 174km/h on Mount Panorama’s Conrod Straight, almost three times more than the 60km/h posted speed limit.
New South Wales police officers said the Maserati had also overtaken two other cars on the opposite side of the road – as Mount Panorama is a two-way tourist drive – prior to blasting past the stationary Highway Patrol BMW 5 Series.
The 24-year old male driver was subjected to a roadside breath and drug test, both of which came back negative.
As the driver was from interstate – and seemingly not from a jurisdiction which enforces double demerits – he didn’t have his licence suspended on the spot, however he had his driving privileges in New South Wales revoked and his number plates confiscated for three months.
He was also issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Bathurst Local Court on the charges of ‘drive at a speed/manner dangerous to the public’ and ‘exceed speed by more than 45km/h’.
New South Wales licence holders face a fine of $2794 and six demerit points if detected driving at more than 45km/h above the speed limit, while negligent driving attracts a $514 fine and three demerit point penalty.
It’s the second time this year that Highway Patrol officers have booked a driver for trying to reenact their V8 Supercars dreams around Mount Panorama, after a Ford Mustang owner was clocked at 170km/h with cannabis in his system in April.
The Mount Panorama circuit is only used as a motorsport facility for five weekends every year, with homes and driveways lining the edges of the 6.213km track.
