Rahul Chand: St Helens Park man convicted, fined over drag race on the M5 Motorway

A car lover’s need for speed saw him reach speeds of 165km/h in a night time drag race with a pal. When speaking to police after being caught in the act, he said they were just “mucking around”.

Rahul Rajneil Chand appeared before Bankstown Local Court on Thursday.

A 21-year-old man told police he was “mucking around” after he was caught reaching speeds of 165km/h on a major highway in a high performance vehicle during a night time drag race.

Rahul Rajneil Chand, 21, of St Helens Park, pleaded guilty to promoting a race between vehicles, driving recklessly, furiously or at speed or manner dangerous and not complying with P1/P2 high performance vehicle registration after he was discovered street racing with a Toyota along the M5 Motorway at 10:42pm on May 12.

Documents tendered to Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday state Chand, who works as a machine operator, and another driver stopped underneath the Henry Lawson Dr overpass at Milperra and used the bridge as a starting line before racing to speeds of 165km/h in a 100km/h zone.

“The vehicles were turning their headlights on and off and have driven through a solid red traffic control light facing both vehicles,” the facts state.

Rahul Rajneil Chand appeared before Bankstown Local Court on Thursday.

“If Chand was to collide with the vehicle travelling on the roadway during this time, the result could have ended in serious injury or death.”

Police followed Chand and the other driver as they turned into Mavis St, Revesby where they both returned negative breath tests.

“Chand told police he was travelling along the M5 Motorway and was ‘mucking around’ and speeding with his friend,” the facts state.

On further inspection, police found Chand had driven a 2016 Volkswagen Golf R – a prohibited vehicle for P-plate drivers – and his number plates were seized.

Chand’s lawyer said his client had now listed the vehicle for sale and understood the severity of his actions.

Rahul Rajneil Chand appeared before Bankstown Local Court on Thursday.

“He’s just a young person who loves cars and is going about it in the worst possible way,” he said.

Magistrate Jennifer Giles said Chand’s behaviour was a “devious piece of criminality”.

“You’re very young. You’re easily distracted, you think rules and speed limits don’t apply to you,” she said.

She condemned his speeding and said if he was involved in an accident there would be “nothing for your family to come and identify … you’ll be vaporised”.

Hurst was convicted for driving recklessly and promoting a race between vehicles, fined $800, sentenced to a community corrections order and had his licence disqualified for 12 months.

He was also convicted for not complying with P1/P2 high performance registration but no penalty was recorded.