A FERRARI driver alleged to have sped through rural roads near Blenheim Palace before lying about who was driving told jurors his manoeuvre was a legal overtake and there was 'confusion' over the driver.

John McGurk is claimed to have driven a Ferrari F40 at up to 80mph in the rural roads around the A44 before overtaking in a 'dangerous' manoeuvre just before a bend near Enstone.

Prosecutors say the 44-year-old, of Loxley Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, then lied to police by falsely claiming that somebody else had been behind the wheel at the time.

McGurk denies one count of dangerous driving and another count of doing acts tending to pervert the course of public justice.

READ AGAIN: Ferrari sped around rural roads near Blenheim Palace, trial hears.

As the trial at Oxford Crown Court continued yesterday McGurk said that there had been some 'confusion' after he was first issued a 'notice of intended prosecution' following the alleged dangerous driving on September 1 2017.

From the witness box he said that he was in the area because of an event at Blenheim Palace celebrating 75 years of Ferrari.

Asked about the overtaking manoeuvre in which he is said to have crossed double white lines he said he had moved into the other lane to over-take while the lines were broken - therefore doing so legally.

Prosecutors say he then frustrated police investigations by wrongly nominating another driver.

McGurk said he thought there was some 'confusion' about who was the driver and sought information to avoid naming the wrong driver 'in error'.

The trial continues.