Kyle James Elphick, 21, was driving a borrowed 2010 turbo Ford Focus XR5 when he came to a stop at a red traffic light on Springhill Road on the evening of March 28 .

A friend, driving a 2011 Volkswagon Golf GTI, pulled up beside him.

Neither apparently saw the highway patrol car idling behind them.

When the light turned green, Elphick and the other young driver accelerated harshly, causing the front wheels on both cars to momentarily screech as they tried to gain traction on the roadway.

Court documents said the pair reached speeds of up to 160km/h in the signposted 80km/h zone as they raced neck and neck along the stretch of road for almost a kilometre.

They only began braking when they caught up with other traffic near the intersection of Five Islands Rd.

Police said they witnessed the entire event unfold and followed pair for a distance before pulling them over.

Officers said Elphick was compliant and polite during their interaction, apologising for his manner of driving and admitting it was "stupid".

He was served with a notice to attend court on charges of street racing and speeding and had his licence suspended on the spot.

Police declined to confiscate the car given it didn't belong to Elphick.

Meanwhile, Elphick fronted Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to both charges.

Magistrate Roger Clisdell disqualified Elphick from driving for eight months and fined him $1,000 for each offence.