A Russian driver competing in the Gumball 3000 rally from Miami to Ibiza, has been fined £600 after driving dangerously on the A702 near Dolphinton.
The 28-year-old was contesting the Edinburgh-Manchester-London leg of the event on Sunday.
A driving instructor travelling on the Dolphinton straight was forced on to the grass verge after being confronted by the accused as he overtook in a powerful four-wheel drive Mercedes ML3.
Vyacheslov Tonakanyan of Moscow Oblast, Russia, appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday and admitted driving dangerously, into the face of oncoming traffic, on June 8.
He was also banned from holding a UK driving licence for two years and ordered to resit an extended test.
The accused was taking part in day four of the rally, which commands a $4,000 entrance fee.
Employed as an architect in his native Russia, he was driving the vehicle for his boss, whom he was due to meet in London.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said the charity event, which began on June 4, involved more than 100 drivers.
She said the accused had been travelling on the Dolphinton straight in Peeblesshire.
“It is a main arterial route through the Borders, and carries a large volume of traffic,” explained Ms Bradley.
“The weather was fine and visibility good,” continued Ms Bradley.
“Police were on uniform mobile patrol because of the event as a large number of prestige vehicles were travelling that route.”
The police vehicle was behind a driving instructor travelling north.
As the driving instructor came on to the straight he was aware of two southbound vehicles travelling towards him in the northbound carriageway, while overtaking a line of cars.
“He is an experienced driver and reduced his speed, anticipating they would get back on to the right side of the road,” explained Ms Bradley.
The first vehicle returned to its correct carriageway, but the 4 x 4 – driven by the accused – continued towards him.
“He applied his brakes, but it still kept coming towards him, and it was clear to him if he didn’t take evasive action, there would be a collision,” continued Ms Bradley.
“He swerved to the nearside and pulled off the road on to the grass verge.
“As the 4 x 4 passed him, still travelling on the wrong carriageway, he described it as being so close that he could see the driver’s teeth,” added Ms Bradley.
Police officers following the instructor turned their vehicle and pursued the accused, who told them, “I apologise, I’m sorry.”
Solicitor Ross Dow, defending, said his client had been looking forward to “the trip of a lifetime”.
“Instead, it is turning out to be a nightmare,” he said.
Mr Dow said his client had been driving his boss’s car, which he was due to hand over to him in London the previous day.
“He was due to fly to Moscow from London last night,” continued Mr Dow.
“Now, he has to get to Paris to meet his boss.
“The car will be boarded on the Channel Tunnel and rail roaded to Paris.”
Mr Dow said his client had been chosen to complete the first leg of the rally by his boss.
“It is not a race, it is a rally of like-minded individuals coming together, most of whom are very wealthy,” explained Mr Dow.
“He is a not a wealthy individual himself, and will incur significant cost for the vehicle being transported to France,” he added.
Sheriff Derrick McIntyre told the first offender his driving could have had serious consequences.
“This was pretty dangerous – you could have killed someone,” he told the accused.