If folks can run this one whenever they get the chance, it'd be interesting to know if this was just fluke piloting behaviour by the AI, or something that will happen regularly in the mission. Will see if I can pull it a few times in other races as well.
EDIT: <raise one eyebrow> Fascinating ... ran it with klink allies and they did the same thing - they started off cranking the speed up, but within 30 or 40 seconds had throttled back to speed 8 and stayed there. I'll see if I can eliminate whatever's causing it.
Apologies Soreyes, you were entirely correct!
dave