A driver steers a Bugatti Chiron near the luxury automobiles manufacturer Bugatti's headquarters in Molsheim, eastern France, on June 5, 2019.
(Photo : PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP via Getty Images)
A millionaire tycoon found himself in hot water after filming himself reaching a speed of 259 mph with his £2.5million Bugatti supercar on a German motorway. German prosecutors confirmed that 58-year-old Radim Passer could face two years in jail as he is being investigated for participating in an alleged illegal race down the A2 between Berlin and Hanover.
Passer invited scrutiny when he posted a video of himself racing online. He said that he undertook his stunt with the Bugatti last year on a six-mile, three-lane strip of road. Passer noted that he had 'visibility along the whole stretch' as he drove his Bugatti, which can do 0-124 mph in just 6.5 seconds.
Passer maintained that 'safety was a priority' during his stunt, but the video clearly shows his car passing other vehicles in the blink of an eye, demonstrating the Bugatti's terrifying speed. The light in the video suggests the clip was taken during twilight.
Did Passer participate in a banned car race?
Police authorities in Saxony-Anhalt said that a file had been passed to prosecutors, with spokeswoman Doreen Guenther saying that they are looking at the possibility of a banned car race. Passer's troubles with the law is big news not only in Germany but also in the Czech Republic where he resides. He is the 33rd-richest individual in the Czech Republic with a net worth of £226 million.
Passer's stunt with the Bugatti has sparked outrage in Germany, with safety campaigners calling for speed limits to be introduced on the autobahn. There are currently no restrictions when driving on the autobahn outside urban areas.
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Transport ministry blasts Passer for driving stunt
The transport ministry in Berlin issued a statement regarding Passer's Bugatti stunt, saying that it rejects any road traffic behavior that leads or can lead to endangering road users. The transport ministry added that all road users must abide by the rules of the road traffic regulations.
The ministry cited the first clause of the legislation, stating that "anyone participating in traffic must behave in such a way that no other person is harmed, endangered or obstructed or inconvenienced more than is unavoidable under the circumstances."
The ministry took aim at Passer after he was seen taking his hands off the steering wheel while celebrating his race win as the car slowed down. According to the ministry, the law clearly states that drivers can only drive so fast if the vehicle is constantly under control.
Despite Passer's boast, the Czech businessman set only the third fastest speed down the autobahn. The record belongs to racing driver Rudolf Caracciola, who hit 268.8 mph in a specially-modified Mercedes Benz back in 1938. Caracciola clocked just half-a-mile an hour quicker than his rival Bernd Rosemeyer, who was driving an Auto Union. The racing duo had the motorway shut down during their showdown.
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