A pensioner led police on a high speed chase along Scotland’s most notorious road in her Ford Fiesta.
Officers were convinced they were pursuing a “boy racer” as they followed Rotraud Engleitner along the A9.
The 65-year-old hit speeds of more than 90mph in her white hatchback, tailgated other vehicles and overtook across solid white lines.
Her antics were captured by a video camera mounted in the powerful police BMW – which had its flashing blue lights on and its siren blaring.
And yesterday, she was warned she could be jailed.
Austrian national Engleitner admitted dangerous driving when she appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
The senior citizen, of Cairntoul, Grampian Road, Aviemore, pled guilty to driving her car at grossly excessive speed, tailgating preceding vehicles and overtaking over solid white lines and in the face of oncoming vehicles.
The drama happened on the Inverness-Perth road between Daviot and Aviemore on September 24.
The chase ended in the driveway at Engleitner’s home.
Yesterday, Sheriff Margaret Neilson viewed footage of the incident in court.
Fiscal depute Michelle Molley gave a commentary as the video showed Engleitner ignoring the pursuing police vehicle and preventing it from overtaking her.
Vehicles travelling in both directions had to take evasive action to avoid collisions.
The chase started at Daviot, eight miles south of Inverness, when officers in the marked police car saw the Fiesta speed past them in excess of the 70mph limit.
They had to accelerate to 111mph to catch up with the Fiesta, but their repeated attempts to overtake Engleitner failed until she pulled into the drive at her house.
After following her for a couple of minutes, the police car switched on its lights and sirens, and kept them on for the rest of the pursuit.
An officer was heard on the tape liaising with other colleagues on his radio, and at one point, shouting in an exasperated tone: “What is going on?”
Engleitner consistently tailgated vehicles, including cars, a lorry and a caravanette.
Then she accelerated to more than 90mph in the rain, driving too close to the centre line, and forcing oncoming vehicles to take evasive action and move on to the verge to avoid a collision.
The tape also showed her overtaking on solid white lines and on a hatched area for vehicles turning right.
When she turned on to the A95 approach road into Aviemore, the police car was able to draw alongside her, but she sped off again, breaking the 60mph speed limit and then the 30mph limit in the tourist village.
Ms Molley said: “Engleitner was breathalysed but it proved negative. There were no mental or medical issues identified at the time.
“The tape shows her making dangerous overtaking manoeuvres, in areas where she was not permitted to do so and forcing vehicles travelling in both directions to allow her to do it safely.
“She made no reply to the charge of dangerous driving.”
Engleitner’s agent, solicitor David Adams, said a background report would be required “as it may highlight some issues”.
Sheriff Neilson, who deferred sentence until April 15, warned Engleitner she could be jailed and immediately banned her from driving
The sheriff added: “All options are open to the court.”