The need for speed: Bentley driver reaches incredible 206MPH on a public road in Australia – and it’s all perfectly LEGAL 

  • John Bowe drove the new Bentley Continental GT Speed on an unrestricted road in Northern Territory in Australia
  • The Australian racing driver managed to reach the top speed in just 76 seconds, travelling 5.8 miles in the process
  • The £170,000 car was covering 92 metres a second on part of the Stuart Highway were there is an open speed limit

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A racing car driver has driven the new Bentley Continental GT Speed at an incredible 206mph on a public road in Australia - and it was all perfectly legal.

John Bowe was covering up to 92 metres per second as he powered the £170,000 car up to its top speed in Australia's Northern Territory.

But he will not face a fine because it was achieved on the 'derestricted' Stuart Highway where there is a 120-mile stretch with an open speed limit.

Speed demon: Racing car driver John Bowe has driven the new Bentley Continental GT Speed at a breathtaking 206mph on a public road in Australia.

Speed demon: Racing car driver John Bowe has driven the new Bentley Continental GT Speed at a breathtaking 206mph on a public road in Australia.

Kicking up dust: He was covering an incredible 92 metres per second as he powered the £170,000 car up to its top speed in Australia's Northern Territory

Kicking up dust: He was covering an incredible 92 metres per second as he powered the £170,000 car up to its top speed in Australia's Northern Territory

John Bowe (pictured) will not face a fine because the speed was achieved on the 'derestricted' Stuart Highway where there is a 120-mile stretch with an open speed limit

John Bowe (pictured) will not face a fine because the speed was achieved on the 'derestricted' Stuart Highway where there is a 120-mile stretch with an open speed limit

'It took us a little over a minute to go from a standstill to 206 mph. That's extraordinary,' said Bowe. 'Even when you break through the 200 mph barrier, the GT Speed just keeps accelerating.' 

Bowe managed to reach the top speed in the British-built Bentley in just 76 seconds, travelling 5.8 miles in the process. 

Popular among celebrities and footballers, the Bentley Continental GT Speed is powered by a 6-litre, twin-turbocharged engine which has 600bhp.

High octane: Bowe managed to reach the top speed in the British-built Bentley in just 76 seconds, travelling 5.8 miles in the process

High octane: Bowe managed to reach the top speed in the British-built Bentley in just 76 seconds, travelling 5.8 miles in the process

Open road: Bowe powered the Bentley along the Stuart Highway where there is a 120-mile stretch with an open speed limit

Open road: Bowe powered the Bentley along the Stuart Highway where there is a 120-mile stretch with an open speed limit

The Australian racing driver managed to reach the top speed in the British-built Bentley in just 76 seconds, travelling 5.8 miles in the process

The Australian racing driver managed to reach the top speed in the British-built Bentley in just 76 seconds, travelling 5.8 miles in the process

The Stuart Highway covers a distance of 1,761 miles from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Port Augusta, South Australia – approximately the same distance as London to Istanbul or New York to Denve

The Stuart Highway covers a distance of 1,761 miles from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Port Augusta, South Australia – approximately the same distance as London to Istanbul or New York to Denve

Manufactured in Crewe, the £170,000 car has a 0-62mph time of just 4.2 seconds.

The Stuart Highway covers a distance of 1,761 miles from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Port Augusta, South Australia – approximately the same distance as London to Istanbul or New York to Denver.

In October 2013, the local Government announced a trial period of reverting to an open speed limit on the 120-mile stretch between Alice Springs and Barrow Creek.  

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