Lucy Claire Payne (32), of Cromwell, was sentenced by Judge Michael Crosbie in the Alexandra District Court yesterday for driving with excess breath-alcohol of 1305mcg in Alexandra on January 20.
Counsel for Payne, Justine Baird, said Payne had half her pancreas removed after a childhood accident and it affected how her body processed alcohol.
Police had "been surprised" at Payne's reading when they processed her, as she was "not as incoherent" as someone with a level of 1305mcg would normally be, Ms Baird said.
Ms Baird said Payne, who was a horse trainer and commentator, had had seven beers to drink that day, between 10am and 5pm.
Payne had been driving a $200,000 Aston Martin at Highlands that day, and filming a Ferrari, Ms Baird said.
Ms Baird said she [Payne] "wouldn't have been allowed to do that if she had been intoxicated".
When approached by the Otago Daily Times for comment after the court hearing, Highlands chief operating officer Josie Spillane said there was "no way" Payne had been driving an Aston Martin at Highlands that day.
Ms Spillane said the only vehicles that were available for visitors to pay to drive at Highlands were a Radical sports car and a Mustang.
"The ability to drive on the circuit in one's own vehicle is a privilege only available to members. Lucy is not a member and therefore, there's no way she could have been driving an Aston Martin on the circuit on January 20. Lucy was a guest here [at Highlands, on January 20], but not in a media capacity. She took an experience ride product in a Ferrari, as a passenger."
Highlands had a "zero tolerance" for alcohol on its circuit, and the health and safety of its staff and guests was paramount, Ms Spillane said.
Payne was fined $800, court costs $130, and disqualified from driving for seven months.
