German car influencer on trial over 347 km/h autobahn drive
German car blogger Michael Spegel is on trial over two 2024 drives on the A8 autobahn, during one of which he may have reached 347 km/h. Prosecutors argue that, given heavy traffic, the driving could count as a banned street race.
A court in Germany is hearing a case against car influencer Michael Spegel, known on social media as “Gercollector” and followed by almost two million people. He must answer for extremely fast driving on the A8 autobahn. The case matters because it tests where the freedom to drive fast ends in Germany, a country known for having no general speed limit on certain motorway sections, though that does not mean drivers may do as they please.
What the trial is about
The proceedings centre on two drives made on the A8 in 2024. In a Mercedes-AMG One with 1,063 horsepower, Spegel possibly reached 347 km/h, and in an Aston Martin Vantage he reached 312 km/h.
The stretch of autobahn in question had no speed limit. Even so, prosecutors believe that, because of heavy traffic, such driving could be classified as prohibited racing.
The defence
The influencer's lawyer rejects the charges, saying video analysis does not point to illegal racing. Spegel himself made no comment in court. The hearing continues and no verdict has been reached.
A similar earlier case
The case recalls a 2022 scandal in which Czech businessman Radim Passer reached 417 km/h in a Bugatti Chiron on Germany's A2 autobahn. German prosecutors then dropped the case, finding insufficient grounds for a charge of illegal individual racing.
