The driver of a Rover who died along with two of his friends when he crashed into a concrete pillar at high speed may have been racing another vehicle, an inquest in Birmingham was told.

Following the accident in Nechells, police carried out a nationwide investigation but failed to track down the person at the wheel of the second car.

Birmingham coroner Aidan Cotter recorded that students Mohammed Ikram, aged 20 of Roland Grove, Lozells, Parvez Khan, aged 21, of St Peters Road, Handsworth, and Mohammed Ahmed, aged 22, of Bowyer Road, Alum Rock, all died as a result of a road traffic accident.

He said: "From the evidence it is clear that the Rover was being driven far too fast. Whether because the driver was racing or for some other reason I cannot tell from the evidence.

"But it is clear there was another vehicle there and it is unfortunate the driver has not seen fit to come forward.

"There is no reason why the driver of the Rover should have responded by driving at speed even if he was being challenged or threatened in some way by the other car."

Pc Karl Davis said the accident happened just before 10pm on February 18 last year on Heartlands Park Way, a dual carriage way with a 40mph speed limit near Star City.

He said the impact had been so great that the Rover had broken in two.

Pc Kevin Gubbins said it was estimated that the Rover had been travelling at 86 mph before it slid sideways into the pillar.

He added: "The Rover appeared to be racing or at least attempting to keep pace with a vehicle with a much better performance."

Raja Khan, who survived the crash, said a Subaru had driven up behind and was "bumper to bumper".

He said Mr Ikram had been the driver of the Rover and that the Subaru had clipped their vehicle before the accident.

Inspector Ian Iliffe said intensive efforts to find the driver of the silver Subaru had been made, including examination of CCTV footage and a nationwide press appeal.

He said: "If the other driver has a conscience, I would like to hear from that individual."

Anyone with information about the accident should ring: 08451135000.