An 18-year-old P-plate driver was allegedly clocked driving at speeds of more than 200 kilometres per hour (kph) in a convoy of up to 100 cars being driven in a road race on the motorway from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, police say.

Queensland Police said their helicopter Polair spotted the vehicles on the M1 near Yatala, south of Brisbane, at about 10.30pm on Friday, with about 15 cars detected reaching speeds of between 150 kph and more than 200kph.

Sergeant Craig McGrath said an 18-year-old provisional driver from Bundall on the Gold Coast was allegedly driving at more than 200kph and had been charged with participating in a speed trial.

"He in fact holds a provisional licence, which is even more frightening and as a result of that he will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court in regards to what's called conducting a speed trial or basically racing on the M1.

"He's also had his vehicle seized for 90 days."

Sergeant McGrath said the most of the road racers appeared to be P-platers and it was a very disturbing incident.

"Those speeds are not something that are common at all, and having regard to the propensity for fatalities both for the people concerned but also just innocent people going about their own business, the chances of them being caught up is quite frightening."