Though police said they may seek to press charges against the racers, they added that Al Thani has since left the US. The sheikh claimed diplomatic immunity and soon took his expensive cars and left the United States.
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Al Thani had sponsored Al-Anabi Racing, a team he’s injected millions into so it could rise to the top of the professional drag-racing circuit in a short time, before funding was abruptly withdrawn in January, according to the L.A. Times.
Beverly Hills police spokesman Lieutenant Lincoln Hoshino said that while investigators had connected Sheikh Khalid Hamad Al-Thani to the Ferrari, it was unknown if he was the person who claimed diplomatic immunity or if he owned the luxury auto .
The bright yellow Ferrari LaFerrari was caught on video careening at high speed along leafy residential streets last weekend, as stunned pedestrians watched it race against a Porsche 911 GT3, slowing only when its engine began to smoke.
Police say they haven’t confirmed whether Al Thani was driving either auto , but a reckless-driving investigation continues.
Jacob Rogers, a video journalist, said the man driving the Ferrari confronted him when he pulled into the driveway and saw that he was being recorded.
He then warned he could have the journalist “killed” and flicked a cigarette at him.
When neighbors complained to the police, officers visited the house where the vehicles were parked.
During a press conference yesterday, Beverly Hills police said Al Thani, who is in his late 20s, had initially claimed diplomatic immunity when questioned by officers on Saturday, September 12.
The drivers weren’t visible on the videos or photographs, and investigators were unable to find anyone who was willing to identify them, Hoshino said.
Police chief Dominick Rivetti said that Al-Thani would be punished because Los Angeles will apply the law regardless of “who you are, who you know or where you are from”.
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Additionally, the Ferrari was not registered with the State Department to be brought into the country, the newswire said. It is unclear if he was actually driving either of the cars involved the street racing. The Qatar Consulate in Los Angeles as not responded to calls requesting a comment on the incident.
