The head of Formula One’s leading team faces a court appearance after being charged with speeding.
Ross Brawn, who has guided his British-based Brawn GP outfit to the top of both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings this season, is accused of reaching a speed of 100 miles per hour in his Mercedes on a road limited to 70mph on May 30. The 54-year-old was clocked by police on England’s A30 road at Sourton, near Okehampton, Devon, the UK Press Association reported on Tuesday. Brawn did not appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday as he is out of the United Kingdom during F1’s four-week summer break, preparing for his team’s next race in Spain on August 23. No plea was entered to the charge, PA said. The case will be heard on September 4, with Brawn’s legal team having been granted an adjournment.
Don’t Miss
‘Sacked’ Piquet blasts Renault boss Briatore
Massa vows to make F1 return
Williams block Schu testing bid
Rejuvenated Hamilton claims shock Hungary win
Brawn made his name as one of the most influential men in top-level motorsport after helping Benetton to two drivers’ world titles and a team crown as technical director in 1994-95. He followed Michael Schumacher to Ferrari and helped restore the legendary Italian marque’s fortunes with six consecutive manufacturers’ titles and five in a row for the German driver. Brawn left in October 2006 and took over as principal of Honda a year later, then completed a 100% buyout in March this year after the team’s Japanese sponsors pulled out. Brawn GP have taken the F1 world by storm this season, with Jenson Button winning six of the first seven races and still leading the championship by 18.5 points despite poor results in his last three outings. Button’s teammate Rubens Barrichello is fourth in the standings behind Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel of Brawn’s nearest rivals Red Bull.
