Alberta RCMP have arrested four people for allegedly driving Ferraris and Lamborghinis at speeds in excess of 200 km/h, one of whom is featured in a video circulating on the internet showing luxury cars hurtling down the province's highways.
The RCMP are investigating reports that drivers of some luxury sports cars, such as the cars seen here, have been using highways in southern Alberta as a speedway.
(Canadian Press)
Four exotic sports car drivers were tracked down south of Calgary on Sunday after local residents complained to police about speeding on Highway 23, near High River.
No charges were laid, but RCMP say the investigation is continuing.
One of the people arrested was Zahir Rana, who owns ZR Auto, which specializes in selling Ferrari and Lamborghini cars.
The company produced a video circulating online that features high-end cars hurtling down a rural highway, with a shot of the speedometers showing top speeds in excess of 300 km/h.
In the video, Rana is clocked driving his Lamborghini at 339 km/h.
"I was nervous before the run. And when I was doing the run, at that time, I just wanted to go faster and faster. And I know I could have done 350, but I ran out of road," he says in the video.
"I just wanted to push and not give a damn about what happened."
Rana told CBC News on Tuesday that the video was faked.
"It's viral marketing. It's nothing. It's not factual at all," he said. "You can make … spaceships land on the moon and put it on TV and [make it] look real."
Alberta RCMP aren't so sure. Sgt. Patrick Webb said he thinks the video could be authentic and an investigation is underway.
"That gets past the point of simply being a little bit heavy on the foot and exceeding a highway speed by 10 or 20 kilometres an hour. This is into the area of dangerous driving and endangers everybody."
Keith Morison, a spokesman for the Calgary Sports Car Club, said it's irresponsible to drive that fast on an open highway, where trucks could appear from a side road or an animal can dash onto the road.
In the Calgary area alone there are more than 40 organized racing events each year, so there is no need to use the highway, he said.
Webb said street racing has long had a presence in Alberta, but what makes this situation unique is the exotic nature of the cars, which he said is tied to Albertans' increasing wealth.
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