Police enlisted the help of an aircraft to track a car clocked speeding up to 186kmh in rural Southland.
A Gore pilot was contacted after police abandoned two pursuits of a 20-year-old Invercargill man driving a Ford Falcon XR6 on Sunday.
Sergeant Greg Ballantyne, of Gore,
said the pilot found the car and followed it, relaying information to police on the ground.
''We don't normally have air support. It was quite a cracker to have it give us a hand the other day,'' Sgt Ballantyne said.
''It was awesome. It turned out really well. No-one was injured. There were no vehicles damaged as a result.''
The pursuit began at 4.25pm after a police patrol clocked the gold Falcon travelling at 186kmh north of Gore, he said.
Police tried to stop the vehicle but it accelerated away.
The pursuit was abandoned due to safety concerns after the car travelled at more than 100kmh in a 50kmh zone in Riversdale.
Another officer saw the vehicle but also abandoned pursuit.
After the first chase, an officer at the Gore airport sought the help of a pilot preparing for takeoff.
About half an hour later, the pilot reported the vehicle was travelling on Waimea Valley Rd west towards SH6.
''The plane followed the car and gave us directions as to where it was going,'' Sgt Ballantyne said.
''They were more than happy to help out.''
Police stopped the driver in Josephville-St Patricks Rd, near Lumsden.
The man recorded an alcohol level of 480mcg and will face charges of reckless driving and drink-driving.
