Could Ross Brawn lose his license for speeding?
Are Formula One legends above the law when it comes to driving on public roads? No and that belief hasn't stopped a handful of drivers from getting into their fair share of trouble. Lewis Hamilton, for example, had his license revoked in France. Michael Schumacher, on the other hand, has gotten into an array of amusing fender-benders behind the wheel of "ordinary" vehicles. Now you can add to their ranks on Ross Brawn, the legendary race strategist responsible for countless race wins and world titles for Benetton, Ferrari and now his own championship-leading Brawn GP team.
The British motorsport engineer was reportedly busted by police in his native England going 100 miles per hour in a 70 zone behind the wheel of a Mercedes. He was set to appear in court last Tuesday, but rescheduled for September 4 once the grands prix in Spain and Belgium are done. When he does finally appear before the magistrate, Brawn could stand to lose his license. Just as well, because he can probably direct a chauffeur to drive even better than he can himself. Just ask Schumacher or Button.
[Source: BBC | Image: Paul Gilham/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Patrick 4:41PM (8/10/2009)
This is why we need variable speed limits to take into account driver skill. I wouldn't trust 60% of the motoring public to drive 100 mph, but Brawn can do it in his sleep.
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Randy 5:24PM (8/10/2009)
Agreed, plus a "Motorist re-education program" to remind motorists that the left lane is passing.
Brian 5:28PM (8/10/2009)
I wouldn't trust 90% to drive at 30 mph....
Polly Prissy Pants 5:31PM (8/10/2009)
Yea, I don't know, there's a big difference between precision driving on a track and being a skilled driver in big city traffic conditions where you have intersections, roundabouts, stop lights, pedestrians, dogs and small children, poor drivers who act randomly, etc. The only similarity is that they both involve the use of a steering wheel and pedals. Just because he knows how to pick the best line doesn't make him a good driver on public streets.
Patrick 7:37PM (8/10/2009)
The lane classifications would only work on highways and expressways, where there are no intersections, roundabouts, children playing, etc.
Alex 9:14AM (8/11/2009)
Ross Brawn, while a race strategist mastermind, has no record of any kind to prove he can drive with any kind of great skill.
Capsicum 7:01PM (8/11/2009)
Where the hell do you live where a 70mph zone has pedestrians, dogs, and children in the roads, Polly?
What a maroon you are.
Corey L 4:42PM (8/10/2009)
Wow, revocation at 100? Glad I'm here in the colonies.
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Affalterbach 5:24PM (8/10/2009)
Hope that doesn't affect his career in F1.
audi_arena 7:14PM (8/10/2009)
Speak for yourself, here in Pennsylvania you lose your license automatically for going 25 mph over any speed limit, the max being 65 mph
JSams4131 4:44PM (8/10/2009)
what a photo for blog entry haha
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DiRF 5:20PM (8/10/2009)
Agreed... many times I am quite bemused and/or impressed with the selection of images Autoblog chooses for various news stories.
Bryan Riddle 5:37PM (8/10/2009)
how can you be this slow at reporting this crap
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/8183053.stm
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Kyle 8:52PM (8/10/2009)
agreed i read this when it first shot up
Majarvis 9:39PM (8/10/2009)
I agree, Autoblog SUCKS for reporting things other than the car industry. If you're not going to post current, timely news on things like this, then don't bother. There are other (dedicated) sites for this stuff.
Aloysius Vampa 7:23AM (8/11/2009)
They do it for you, Majarvis.
Sam 9:20AM (8/11/2009)
After a week, the story isn't even worth reporting.
He wont lose it, his lawyers will say he needs it for his work and the judge will let him have it.
N. H. Peters 7:54AM (8/11/2009)
I don't blame the cops...I don't want to be on the highway with this guy nor any other driver going that fast. It only takes one instant to kill or be killed. Save the fancy driving for the track. Take his license.
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Ernest 8:25AM (8/11/2009)
If they don’t want me driving over 55 miles an hour then make all cars with a governor at top speed of 80 miles that pulls back to 65 miles an hour after 5mins of constant speeding over 65 miles an hour. Don’t give me a 350z, a BMW M3 or M5 or a Mustang GT and think I am always going to do the speed limit. That’s a bunch of BS They should have 2 express lanes on major high ways with no speed limit. Get the hell out the fast lane all you can’t drive MFers. NY people are known for doing 55 in the fast lanes holding up traffic.
State troopers are only put on highways to generate million of dollars for the state and insurance companies. Tickets should only been issued for DUI, tailgating, road rage, erratic switching of lanes, not obeying stop signs, school zone, and traffic lights and littering. All other traffic fines are BS.
Speeding should be exempt from major highway where there are no traffic lights.
They should make old people over 65 drives in a slow lane and a create a lane for truckers only with the exception of passing another vehicle.
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steelbluetiger 8:52AM (8/11/2009)
Those are some pretty bold statements my friend. But your absolutely right about having high performance vehicles. Hell I have a Lumina Euro and I usually average about 70-75mph. Course I'm 23 so...yeah but I think your comments about state police makes sense. And when you say exempt you mean not enforced right? (Stupid question I know)