Bentley announced that its Continental Supersports driven by Juha Kankkunen broke a world speed record on ice, achieving an impressive 330.695 km/h in Oulu, Finland.
The British manufacturer's car in question is practically identical to what consumers can buy. The only modifications were the addition of a safety cage, Pirelli 275/40R20 winter tires and an emergency parachute built into the rear bumper.
Kankkunen showed no mercy on the 12-cylinder, 621-hp engine, which ran on biofuel for the event. Not only was it pushed to its limits, but the car also had to face temperatures as low at -30 °C, sudden blizzards and potentially dangerous crosswinds - on a track covered by 70 cm of ice.
To beat the record, the top speed had to be achieved within 1,000 metres and be established by determining the average of two runs in opposite directions.
The Finish police was responsible for compiling the data and was supervised by a representative of the Guinness book of world records.
The British manufacturer's car in question is practically identical to what consumers can buy. The only modifications were the addition of a safety cage, Pirelli 275/40R20 winter tires and an emergency parachute built into the rear bumper.
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| Photo: Bentley |
Kankkunen showed no mercy on the 12-cylinder, 621-hp engine, which ran on biofuel for the event. Not only was it pushed to its limits, but the car also had to face temperatures as low at -30 °C, sudden blizzards and potentially dangerous crosswinds - on a track covered by 70 cm of ice.
To beat the record, the top speed had to be achieved within 1,000 metres and be established by determining the average of two runs in opposite directions.
The Finish police was responsible for compiling the data and was supervised by a representative of the Guinness book of world records.
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