A motorist was slapped with a $1,000 fine for driving at a ‘record' 199 mph on Germany's Autobahn
The speedster, who was not identified, was caught while racing along the A2 highway near Burg on July 28.
The driver was handed a fine of 900 euros ($1,043), stripped of two points from his driver's license and banned from driving for three months, the Magdeburg police office said Tuesday.
A roadside radar stand, known as an 'Enforcement Trailer,' caught the motorist in a routine check. A reading from its display showed 'the highest record speed' of 321 kph, police said.
Germany's famed Autobahn motorways have captured fascination and interest around the world for their lack of speeding limits. German authorities and driving clubs have argued over the years about whether the policy should continue.
Limitless speeds aren't universal on the Autobahn, though, as parts of the motorway are subject to speed limits. The section of the motorway where the record-breaking driver was caught has a limit of 120 kph (74.5 mph).
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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
The epicenter of stalking in sports? Why tennis stands apart
In April of 1993, Monica Seles and Steffi Graf were dueling for supremacy at the top of women's tennis. Graf had won eight out of the nine Grand Slam tournaments played between 1988 and early 1990, before Seles burst onto the women's tour and won eight of the next twelve. Their titles and their rivalry catapulted them into stardom — and danger. Advertisement At an event in Hamburg, Günter Parche, a fan fixated on Graf, ran onto the court during a changeover as Seles played Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria. He stabbed Seles between the shoulder blades before being restrained. The physical and emotional toll kept Seles away from competitive tennis for over two years, and Seles, who looked predestined to win dozens of major titles, would win just one more in her career. Graf would win 22. That infamous moment stands out in tennis history, but it is also part of a pattern. A couple of years earlier, at the French Open, Graf's father punched James Levee, a wealthy man who had lavished gifts on a teenage Graf and then switched his attention to Seles, also a teenager. In 1990, another fan slit his wrists in front of Graf, while another broke into her home shortly after Seles' stabbing. Martina Hingis, Anna Kournikova and the Williams sisters — all high-profile players or rising phenoms — reported encounters with fixated people around the turn of the century; Grand Slam champions Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki did so in the early 2000s. Three decades on from Hamburg in 1993, modern stars of the sport are experiencing more of the same. In February, at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Emma Raducanu broke down in tears mid-match after spotting a man who had given her a letter and asked for a photo the previous day. She'd noticed him at a number of her previous events as well. Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek was harassed in Miami this year when a man who had made threats online showed up and verbally abused her during practice. On the first day of this year's Wimbledon, Yulia Putintseva said she wouldn't continue her first-round match until a spectator she called 'dangerous' and 'crazy,' and who she feared had a knife, had been removed. Putintseva lost the match 6-0, 6-0. Advertisement Katie Boulter was followed by someone in a car during a tournament; Danielle Collins had to deal with numerous fixated individuals, one of whom called her friends and family at work. Coco Gauff told reporters at the Madrid Open in April that someone tried to follow her and her dad to their home in Florida when she was 15. Athletes in all sports deal with fixated individuals, but women's tennis has been and continues to be the epicenter of the issue. People involved in the sport and stalking experts say that tennis has particular conditions and characteristics that make its players targets, regardless of the era. 'I think it's to do with the individuality of the sport, and then a combination of precociousness, attractiveness and visibility,' said a former Women's Tennis Association (WTA) executive who spoke on the condition of anonymity to maintain relationships in the sport. 'You put all those things together and women's tennis is a perfect storm for fixated individuals.' Tennis has always inspired a level of devotion to its stars, and no other sport has as many female icons. Whether it's on the ATP (men's) or WTA side, many fans define themselves by being for one player and against their rival. The growth of social media and the expectation that players should be accessible to their fans have only intensified this parasocial relationship. Players' match schedules and practice schedules are posted online and at events, making themselves easy to find in less guarded moments, with fewer people around than would be in a stadium for a match. And even at the biggest venues in the sport, courtside seating lets fans get very close to players, and they walk from place to place largely in public view. Pam Shriver, who was president of the WTA player council at the time Seles was stabbed, recalled the impact the incident had on the wider tennis world. Advertisement 'What happened with Monica was so tragic and devastating that it forced change. We all became more aware to report any kind of behaviour that seemed obsessive, fanatical or threatening,' she said. 'Look, if you don't feel safe, you can't perform to the best of your ability.' Less than a third (29 percent) of stalking victims reported their situations to police in 2019, according to a study published by the U.S. Department of Justice. For myriad reasons, victims often choose to endure without alerting law enforcement or going public with their ordeal. Tennis players became more accustomed to speaking up in the wake of the Seles incident, and that may be the clearest reason women's tennis continues to be at the forefront of the issue. Its athletes are reporting problems and raising awareness at a higher rate than those in other sports. Raducanu has talked openly about her recent incident and one three years ago, when a 35-year-old man, Amrit Magar, was given a five-year restraining order after he walked 23 miles to her family home. She told reporters that 'in England it's pretty difficult for me to go out and about. Sometimes I've had neck pain from looking at the floor so much with a cap on.' In an interview with The Athletic, Collins said that the measures she took after her experiences with fixated individuals affected fans' perception of her. 'I really wanted my privacy for a long time after that,' she said, explaining that her decision to keep a low profile led some people to perceive her as cold or distant. Australian Open champion Madison Keys said in an interview in April that 'a handful of cases' at home had affected her everyday life, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka described asking for additional security at some events. And though it is largely women who are affected, male stars of the sport experience the impact of tennis' ripe conditions for parasocial relationships. Carlos Alcaraz, one of the most-trailed players in the sport, said in a news conference in June that while he feels safe at tournaments, he has felt uneasy on the streets among fans. 'There are some situations that I felt weird, let's say,' he said. As patterns of fixated behavior have changed, so too have the security measures that players and tournaments take. Those measures, while imperfect, have helped the sport identify and deal with problematic individuals. 'When we think about when my generation played, you had maybe a coach and an agent,' Seles told The Athletic. 'I didn't have six people in my box, so they have that extra layer of, I think, security.' Advertisement In 2023, the WTA organization appointed Lindsay Brandon as its first dedicated director of safeguarding. The WTA, alongside the International Tennis Federation, the All England Club that operates Wimbledon, and the United States Tennis Association launched Threat Matrix. Developed by Signify Group, an AI firm, and supported by fixated threat specialists Theseus Risk Management and risk mitigation company Quest, the program monitors players' public social media accounts for abusive or threatening content. In its first full-year report released in June, it revealed that 15 cases had to be escalated to law enforcement. But how much dedicated security they can provide varies among events. The four Grand Slams — Wimbledon and the Australian, French and U.S. Opens — partner with the tours and outside firms to manage security, while at smaller events, players might walk around sites with only their coaches for company. In the immediate aftermath of Parche's attack on Seles, tennis became more vigilant about security in a physical sense. Players' chairs were moved farther from stands and guards stood on courts during changeovers. But fans can still get incredibly close to players at events of all sizes — especially in the early rounds of Grand Slam tournaments, when the volume of matches puts some of the biggest stars in the sport on courts more akin to those at a small community club. Czech men's player Jiří Lehečka said he felt unsafe at the French Open during a match in May. Fans in the front row for his second-round match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Court 13 were so close that they were pinching his towels at the end of the match. 'I think it's unacceptable,' he told reporters in June. 'It's not about the towel, it's about that they have access to our personal things. I don't really think that this should happen.' The French Tennis Federation did not respond when asked about the incident. Advertisement As Świątek found out, online abuse can also move into the physical world, where the diffusion of resources again takes over. A tournament like Wimbledon can work with national police, terrorism, and security authorities, along with the tennis tours' additional protocols. It has behavioral detection experts on hand to identify potential risks from fixated individuals, 24/7 closed-circuit television and foot and dog patrols. Smaller tournaments, further down the tennis ladder, do not have the resources to employ these kinds of failsafes — and even larger events have seen incidents slip through. The Dubai Tennis Championships, at which Raducanu was targeted, is a WTA 1,000 event, one tier below a Grand Slam. Ryan Trudgeon, a freelance close protection officer in the entertainment and sports world, remembers the job spec for the ATP Tour Finals at the O2 in London. He escorted players from their hotel to the venue, taking transport on a private boat and the London public transport system. 'You'd recce all the sites you're going to well in advance so that you know exactly where you're going,' Trudgeon said. 'It's all about situational awareness. Even if you're in a safe place, there's always a chance someone has bad intentions. If something feels off, it probably is.' The real challenge comes during a live match. 'You can't remove the principal mid-match,' Trudgeon said. 'Elsewhere, you could simply move them or investigate a suspicious person. Whatever the situation, it's a case of always being dynamic.' WTA chief executive Portia Archer said in a phone interview in March: 'Keeping our environment safe is an important priority for us. It's something we take very seriously.' But the sport cannot eliminate the characteristics that attract behaviors that tip from fandom into fixation without eradicating the essential nature that makes it one of the most captivating in the world. Advertisement 'The knowledge out there is so much more. I mean, what happened to me has never happened before and knock on wood never will happen again,' Seles said. 'It hasn't happened in 30 years, so I hope never will.' (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos: Bill Kostroun / Associated Press; Julien De Rosa, Mike Hewitt/ Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Forbes
11 hours ago
- Forbes
Porsche Unveils New 911 Cup And GT3 R For Motorsport Duty
Porsche recently unveiled two cars that are a cornerstone of its racing efforts: The new 992.2-generation 911 Cup and revised GT3 R. The former is part of the brand's one-make series that runs in North America, Germany, and Asia, whereas the latter sees duty in global FIA GT3-class competition. In the USA, this most prominently takes the form of the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship and SRO GT World Challenge America. Both race cars largely mimic their predecessors, yet, with some key changes to suspension and aerodynamics. Over 5,000 Cup Cars Built Since 1990 Built alongside road-going 911s at Porsche's Zuffenhausen, Germany facility, the current 992.1-generation 911 Cup has been in service since 2020 and totals 1,130 units. But now, with the 992.2 revision that debuted earlier this year, the new Cup will now be upgraded to reflect changes to its exterior. Additionally, some race-ready function is built into its bodywork. The front spoiler lip—acting as a key source of downforce—is now made up of three separate parts, which means easier and less-costly replacement after on-track contact. Similarly, the Cup loses the road-going version's daytime running lights, as, in the event of a collision, there's less threat to the Cup's radiator system. Plus, one less component to replace means less money spent by teams during repair. Additionally, a less-expensive carbon fiber fleece now comprises several rear body parts, which should be easier on teams' finances, too. The front fenders now feature louver vents and revised underbody aerodynamic engineering to improve overall precision on track, especially at high speed. Then, the rear spoiler has been revised for easier adjustment. In terms of power output, the naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six beneath every Cup car now produces 512 horsepower. Reigning it in is a revised braking package, with wider and larger brake discs up front with optimized ducting to improve cooling. Suffice to say, this will be the most capable, confident, and lively Cup car generation ever built since the series debuted 35 years ago. GT3 Brawler The current Porsche 911 GT3 R debuted in 2023 and has been no stranger to podiums around the globe. Last year, AO Racing's iconic Rexy GTD Pro entry claimed the season championship, and GT3 Rs claimed six wins in eight events in Germany's own Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). Now, a new revised R is set to debut in grids for the 2026 season. While upgrades are minimal, they'll ensure competitiveness up against other GT3-class contenders from Aston Martin, Mercedes-AMG, BMW, and more, for years to come. They're largely focused on front-end aero and suspension by way of revised fender louvers and re-engineering kinematics in its double-wishbone suspension. These louvers 'help to counteract front-end compression during deceleration, thereby maintaining aerodynamic balance. This reduces the tendency of the car to tilt forward during braking, also known as pitch sensitivity. As a result, the new 911 GT3 R offers more precise and predictable braking behavior, improving overall control,' Porsche Motorsport states in its official press release. Improved durability and reliability has been the focus of the new GT3 R, too. The electrohydraulic power steering system features upgraded cooling, and new ceramic wheel bearings are fitted to improve overall robustness dealing with sustained duty on circuits around the globe. Several add-ons are now standard equipment, too, making it easier for teams to adhere to different series' rulebooks. Finally, the GT3 R's mighty 4.2-liter flat-six engine produces as much as 557 horsepower, though, adjusting this figure based on series' balance-of-performance rules will be easy to achieve. As the 992-generation has been out for some time, Porsche states that it will offer upgrade packages to bring pre-2026 911 GT3 Rs up to this current specification.
CBS News
14 hours ago
- CBS News
Teen driver charged with intoxication manslaughter in fatal Garland crash, police say
An 18-year-old Cadillac SUV driver accused of speeding into a Garland intersection and crashing into a Nissan SUV — killing its sole occupant — has been arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter, police said. Alan Ernaldo Marmol Melendez was taken into custody after the crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of North Garland Avenue and Kingsley Road, according to the Garland Police Department. Police said Marmol Melendez's black Cadillac SUV was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed when it struck the eastbound Nissan SUV in the intersection. Marmol Melendez and a passenger in his vehicle sustained minor injuries. The passenger was hospitalized and later released, authorities said. Marmol Melendez is being held in the Garland Jail. No bond has been set. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Garland Police Department at (972) 485-4840 to report tips or provide information. CBS News Texas will provide additional details as they become available.
