Athens, Greece – April 5, 2025
A high-profile case of reckless driving has gripped Athens after a Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series was clocked at 291 km/h on Syngrou Avenue in the early hours of March 31, 2025. The vehicle, a rare hypercar boasting 720 horsepower and a top speed of 325 km/h, is registered to Andreas Manesis, founder of Manessis Travel, a leading tourism company in Greece.
The incident occurred at 01:12 AM when traffic police radar in Kallithea recorded the car tearing through the urban artery, where the speed limit is 90 km/h. Authorities launched an immediate investigation, using a radar photo of the Swiss-registered license plate to trace the vehicle. Manesis was identified as the owner within hours, and a case file for dangerous driving was opened and forwarded to the prosecutor.
When questioned by police, Manesis confirmed ownership of the €400,000 supercar but denied being behind the wheel, claiming a friend was driving. The investigation continues as authorities work to verify his account. Legal experts suggest that, if convicted, the driver could face severe penalties, including fines and jail time, given the extreme speed in a densely populated area.
This marks the second high-speed incident on Syngrou Avenue this week. On April 2, a 45-year-old driver was arrested after a chase, clocked at 206 km/h while intoxicated. The back-to-back events have sparked public outrage and calls for stricter enforcement on one of Athens’ busiest roads.
Manesis, dubbed the “king of travel,” has not commented publicly beyond his initial statement to police. The case has drawn significant attention due to his prominence in Greece’s tourism industry, raising questions about accountability and road safety in the capital.
The prosecutor’s office is expected to provide an update in the coming days as the investigation unfolds.
Source: Compiled from police reports and local media.