It is not just Finland's successful rally drivers who put their feet down

Jussi Salonoja, the 27-year-old heir to a family-owned sausage empire, was given the £116,000 ticket after being caught driving 80km/h in a 40km/h zone.

Helsinki police came up with the figure after tax office data showed that Mr Salonoja earned close to £7m in 2002.

If his penalty stands it will beat the previous record of almost 80,000 euros.

That figure (£54,000) was paid in 2000 by Finnish internet millionaire Jaakko Rytsola, when he was caught speeding.

Yet Mr Salonoja could yet get his penalty reduced, as was the case with Nokia executive Anssi Vanjoki.

In 2002, Mr Vanjoki's 116,000 euros fine was reduced by no less than 95% due to his drop in income following a downturn in the mobile phone maker's profits.