Porsche driver dies testing sports car

Porsche says one of its drivers has been killed while testing a sports car on a German motorway.

Police say the 51-year-old crashed the 911 Cabriolet into the centre guard rail of the A5 autobahn between Frankfurt and Heidelberg at 2.40am this morning. The driver, who had 25 years’ experience, died at the scene.

Porsche SE says he was part of a road endurance test in which three drivers drove the car non-stop in shifts around-the-clock. Spokesman Dirk Erat says high-speed tests are not done on open roads and the cause of the crash is unclear.

Another driver was testing a new four-door Panamera at the same time but was not involved in the accident.

Police, prosecutors and Porsche are investigating.