Sydney  - An Australian motoring correspondent who went through a police speed check at 231 kilometres per hour told a Perth court that he was overtaking another vehicle and didn't realize how fast his half-million-dollar Ferrari California was travelling.

"It has really impacted on my livelihood," Rod Easdown, 58, said after being fined and losing his licence for six months following July's memorable test drive.

"I've lost the best job in motoring journalism in Australia, which I'm never going to get back," he said. (dpa)