Speeding Ferrari to stay locked up

The Ferrari supercar seized by police after being caught speeding at 231km/h on a country road on Monday will remain under lock and key for its full seven-day suspension.

West Australia police have rejected a plea from the owner of the Ferrari -- specialist vehicle distributor European Automotive Importers -- to have the car released early.

The Acting Commissioner of West Australia police, Chris Dawson, told ABC radio in Perth: "There has been an application made by the owners of the vehicle to get the vehicle back, that application under hardship has been refused so the vehicle remains seized for seven days," he said.

The Acting Commissioner also said the car’s value was "irrelevant" and that police did not believe the company would go bust simply because the car was off the road for seven days.

"Public roads are not a place to test high-speed performance vehicles," he said.

The Ferrari California convertible, one of only two in the country, costs about $500,000 once on-road costs are taken into consideration.

It was being used for test drives by media and potential customers.

At the time it was seized, it was being driven by a motoring journalist on a road loop which took him through the WA wheat belt, about 100km north east of Perth.

It was along one of these backroads he was allegedly detected driving at 231km/h by an unmarked police car.

The car was then seized for seven days under that state's anti-hoon laws. From July 1, WA police also gained the power to seize cars on the spot for 28 days if they are found to be driven by an unlicenced driver.

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