Susie Wolff, former DTM racer and test driver with Williams, who is married to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, has failed in her bid to get a 6 month driving ban overturned.

The Scot, who now works as an ambassador for Mercedes, told Oxford Crown Court that losing her license would be "hugely embarrassing" and affect her charity work.

"I'm not a girl racer," she insisted, having been recorded doing 35mph in a 30mph zone in June 2015 in the Oxfordshire village of East Hanney, "I save my speed for the race track.

"It is a hugely embarrassing situation to find myself in," she continued, "I'm a professional driver and to be caught speeding and to have my license taken away for speeding, would have an effect on my reputation."

Despite claiming that as a "role model" to the girls her charity, Dare to be Different, is aiming to help, a ban would let them down and that she would not be able to participate in the charity's events or do her ambassadorial job promoting Mercedes, her pleas fell on deaf ears.

"It may well be an embarrassment as far as her position is concerned," declared Recorder Sarah Campbell as she dismissed Wolff's appeal, "but it may be a salutary lesson to those aware of the facts."

Wolff, who had nine points on her license for two previous speeding offences when she was banned by magistrates for six months in November, was also fined £500 and ordered to pay £345 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by H.KBrit, 21/03/2017 7:44

"How many times has she lost her license? If the pit lane speed is 30 and you do 35 its a penalty!!"

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2. Posted by sumpnz, 18/03/2017 17:33

"@ Chris - of that I am quite well aware. I might be a Yankee, but I lived in New Zealand for a while, and I actually paid attention in school.

From this side of the pond, though, this is just another example of how far Great Britain has fallen from it's heyday as the greatest empire in the world and the economic and cultural powerhouse of days gone by.

Granted there are plenty of absurdities over here too. Trump vs Clinton being a prime example. That those 2 were the best we could do out of 320 million people ..."

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3. Posted by Editor, 18/03/2017 12:34

"@ sumpnz

It’s a widely held misconception that great as in Great Britain is being used as a noun… as in how great Britain is.

However, it is actually used as an adjective and dates back to the Norman invasion of 1066 when our little island became known as Great Brittany."

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4. Posted by CL, 18/03/2017 12:22

"Yeah, I guess lenient sentencing is bound to make us "great" again...I'm sure the judges will consider that "

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5. Posted by sumpnz, 18/03/2017 3:16

"6 month suspension for 5mph over? WTF, over? Even with 2 previous tickets for speeding that is asinine. I've gotten verbal warnings for more than 10 over. Gotten a ticket for that speed too a couple time but fought one and won. 25 over and I can understand that kind of suspension. Maybe I could see it for 5 over with something like 10 previous tickets in the last 3-5 years.

No wonder it's called (Formerly) Great Britain."

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6. Posted by Giraffes, 17/03/2017 19:31

"Suzie should just apply to a different Magistrate who will give her her license back. There is a guy driving round southern England with 62 yes Sixty Two, points on his license and hasn't been banned."

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7. Posted by jackois, 17/03/2017 16:31

"It's a pain for Suzie, but quite fair if you consider her previous points were also for speeding.

Add to that, most people I know would be mega careful with 9 points on their UK licence..."

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8. Posted by Mad Matt, 17/03/2017 16:21

"While I agree with your sentiment about 5mph, I thought Hamilton's problems came while he was in France and not the UK so I don't think there can be any bias shown here."

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9. Posted by Trixi, 17/03/2017 15:56

"OK, so she had a couple of other offenses...that kind of needs to be taken into consideration. However, five miles over? Give me a break! I've seen where Hamilton has been stopped for speeding; texting; hitting other cars...and yet he is given a pass. Obviously, there is a an obvious bias shown here. "

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10. Posted by EAKLE_510, 17/03/2017 15:46

"Wow, that sounds pretty intense for only 5mph over the speed limit."

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11. Posted by Ro, 17/03/2017 15:44 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 17/03/2017 18:03)

"Hey??? what about all the other scroats on 60-odd points and still are driving. 35mph in a 30, yes its not ok but I would like to know the circumstances. A decent solicitor would have got her off a ban because she needs her license to work. Sorry to hear she was made an "Example"."

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12. Posted by bmendon, 17/03/2017 15:10 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 17/03/2017 18:03)

"This comment was removed by an administrator as it was judged to have broken the site's posting rules and etiquette."

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Susie Wolff loses driving ban appeal

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