The Hennessey Venom GT has set a new world record after reaching 270.49mph (435.5kmph) speeds during a test run at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US.
One of the main reasons the record is impressive is that instead of using a high-speed oval to give the car a running start, the test driver Brian Smith started at rest, broke the record and stopped on the 5.1km stretch.
Venom GT broke the 269.86mph (431kmph) record previously set by Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which is considered to be a jewel in Bugatti’s crown and claimed to be the result of an excellent development and research programme.
Hennessy Venom GT is a stretched Lotus Exige with a 7.0 litre, 927KW twin-turbo V8 wedged between its axels.
Despite breaking the previous record, Hennessy won’t be lucky enough to find its name in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Venom GT could only be driven one way instead of a to-and-fro run – as required by the records book.
